Google has started rolling out an exciting new feature for its Translate app. Users can now choose between two translation options: “Fast” or “Advanced,” both powered by Gemini AI. This update, first spotted by 9to5Google, gives users more control over how their translations are generated.
The new feature appears as a simple AI model selector at the top of the app. When you tap it, you get to choose. The “Fast” option focuses on speed and getting the translation done quickly. The “Advanced” option, on the other hand, focuses on accuracy, using Google’s powerful Gemini AI to deliver better results.
Currently, this “Advanced” mode is showing up for some users on iOS devices, but Android users are still waiting. Also, the more accurate mode only works for translations between English and French and English and Spanish for now. Google will likely expand its availability and language support in the future.
To really see the difference, a test used a line from Moliere’s French play, “Le Misanthrope.” The “Fast” mode gave a very literal translation: “Frankly, he’s fit for the closet; you’ve based yourself on bad models, and your expressions are not natural.” This translation wasn’t quite right: “cabinet” in this context actually means “toilet,” and the overall meaning felt a bit off.
However, when the “Advanced” mode tackled the same passage, it delivered a much more accurate and natural-sounding translation: “Frankly, it’s fit to be thrown in the toilet; You have based yourself on wretched models, and your expressions are not at all natural.” This version not only captured the correct meaning but also better reflected the play’s style. The standalone Gemini app, when used in Pro mode, gave almost the same excellent result, even adding helpful context about the passage’s place in the play.
So, while the “Advanced” mode might take a little longer, it clearly offers more precise and context-aware translations. Suppose you absolutely need a translation to be spot-on. In that case, it might still be a good idea to double-check with Gemini directly for extra context. But remember, all AI tools can sometimes make mistakes, so always use your judgment!
