Google Translate Helps Bring The World Together in Russia

The World Cup may be the largest gathering of the international community outside of the Olympic Games every four years, and while the atmosphere may be jovial, there are natural logistical issues that come with an influx of international tourists to a host nation. The language barrier is the most glaring one, and while soccer might be a global language, tourists still need to eat, find lodging and maneuver around a foreign country.

At this year’s World Cup, people are learning they are able to communicate with Google Translate—usually by creating written text on their computers and phones, but sometimes with the app’s voice feature—to buy and sell, and even just to give casual compliments. Of course, you have to be careful, because the translator is still imperfect. As Reuters notes, a user may try saying that Russian women are beautiful, and end up saying, “Old women are very beautiful.”

Reporters have also used the technology to ask questions to players in their native language after matches, according to Reuters.

Google Translate is an AI that involves deep learning. “Deep learning” doesn’t mean the AI actually understands what it is translating; rather, it means that there are many layers of nodes in the artificial neural network (ANN). The more layers of nodes an ANN has, the more complex things it can learn. And language is certainly complex.

With an ANN, the more information it is given, the more accurate the ANN becomes. In the case of language, the more accurate translations of sentences from one language to another it receives, the better the translation becomes over time. This is why Google Translate has improved over time, and it is why it asks users for better translations of what it provides.

So while Google Translate is hardly going to replace the world’s translators of great literature or the interpreters at the UN anytime soon, it can certainly help tourists get around in places where they are not likely to have learned the language.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

professional advancement
The Measured Mindset: How Mentorship, Curiosity, and Listening Drive Professional Advancement and Growth
July 29, 2025

Not every path into analytics starts with code and spreadsheets. For some, it begins with curiosity, adaptability, mentorship, and a willingness to learn something entirely new. That’s the case for Mayank Malviya, whose journey from a humanities education in India to a career in U.S.-based market research reveals how initiative and mentorship can accelerate…

Read More
future-ready workforce
Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training
July 28, 2025

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

Read More
The Silent Health Crisis: Indoor Air Quality in Long-Term Care
July 28, 2025

The Silent Health Crisis: Indoor Air Quality in Long-Term Care Most nursing homes have infection control down to a science. They’ve got medication protocols that would make a hospital jealous. Fall prevention? They track every risk factor. But ask them about their air quality and you’ll likely get a puzzled look. That’s a problem, because…

Read More
educators
JUST THINKING… About Bringing out the Best in Educators and Learners with Ross Kimball
July 25, 2025

As the educational landscape rapidly evolves—shaped by advances in communication technology, growing mental health awareness, and post-pandemic classroom dynamics—one key question persists: How can we better connect with and empower both educators and students in the classroom? The stakes are high: studies show that teacher-student relationships directly impact student motivation, academic success, and long-term…

Read More