In early 2025, Microsoft will introduce an AI-powered translator feature in Teams, enabling participants to speak or listen in their preferred language from the available options. Initially, this feature will be available in preview exclusively for Microsoft 365 subscribers and support nine languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, and Spanish.
The translator can mimic the speaker’s voice in real time, though it will sound different. According to a Microsoft representative, “The feature will reproduce the speaker’s message as accurately as possible without adding assumptions or extraneous information.” Voice simulation requires user consent, which can be granted through a meeting notification or by enabling “Voice simulation consent” in the settings.
Multilingual and Enhanced AI Features
Microsoft plans to expand its offering with multilingual meeting transcriptions in over 31 languages in the future. Additionally, the company is exploring the possibility of integrating Copilot in Teams to recognize and summarize visual content, such as PowerPoint slides or web pages shared during calls. This AI capability may also summarize shared files in chats, streamlining workflows and saving time.
On Copilot Plus PCs, Microsoft will activate Teams Super Resolution, leveraging the local NPU chip to enhance video call quality. Starting in January, Windows app developers will gain access to super-resolution APIs to improve blurry images in applications.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
Digital voice-over and AI translation technologies are rapidly advancing. Meta recently launched a translation tool for Instagram Reels, and ElevenLabs introduced a popular dubbing platform. While AI translations may lack the nuance of human translators, they offer significant cost-saving potential for businesses, notes NIX Solutions.
The natural language processing market, which includes translation services, is projected to grow to $35.1 billion by 2026, according to Markets and Markets. Microsoft’s ongoing developments position them as a major player in this evolving field. We’ll keep you updated as these features roll out and as further integrations become available.