Global collaboration is now the standard for conferences, webinars, and international events across Europe, North America, and Asia. Yet language barriers remain one of the biggest obstacles to meaningful participation. Traditionally, organizations have relied on simultaneous interpreters, but the rise of AI-powered live translation and captioning transforms how multilingual communication happens in real time.
Today’s AI tools deliver fast, cost-effective, and inclusive solutions that ensure audiences can engage fully, whether they are attending a business summit in Copenhagen, a university lecture in New York, or a hybrid event in Singapore. This article highlights the leading AI translation and captioning tools and shows you how to choose the right solution to elevate your events and communication strategy.
What is Live Translation and AI Captioning?
Live AI translation uses generative AI to interpret spoken or written words as they happen. Unlike traditional machine translation, which processes static content, live AI translation works dynamically by capturing speech and converting it into text or audio translations in real time.
Why Use AI Tools for Live Translation?
Live AI translation tools offer significant advantages for those looking to enhance communication at multilingual events:
Speed and Efficiency
AI tools can process large volumes of content instantly, making them indispensable for live events, conferences, and support centers.
Cost-Effective
AI translation offers many organizations a more affordable option by reducing the need for human translators and interpreters in basic or immediate tasks.
Accessibility
Real-time captioning and translation offer support in a growing number of languages, making it easier for global audiences to engage. Additionally, AI-powered captions provide more options for Deaf or Hard of hearing participants, ensuring that everyone can follow the content, regardless of language barriers or hearing ability.
5 Best AI Tools for Live Translation and Captioning
Here’s a look at some of the top AI tools for live translation and captioning, along with their features and pros and cons:
1. Boostlingo Events
AI tools can process large volumes of content instantly, making them indispensable for live events, conferences, and support centers.
Boostlingo Events is a robust remote simultaneous interpretation platform with an AI-powered translation tool designed to handle real-time multilingual communication. It offers seamless integration into existing platforms like Zoom and MS Teams, making it an excellent choice for event planners and businesses looking to enhance inclusivity through live translation and interpretation.
Key Features
- Real-time speech-to-speech and captioning translations
- Scalable for large, multilingual events
- Integration with popular RSI platforms
Pros
- High scalability
- Strong integration capabilities
- Customizable for different event sizes
Cons
- Some accuracy limitations with highly specialized content
Explore our AI Translation Tool for Events to learn more and see how our innovative solutions can fit your needs.
2. Wordly
Wordly is another popular AI translation tool known for its versatility. It provides automatic translations in real-time, making it ideal for webinars, meetings, and conferences.
Key Features
- Supports over 60+ languages for live translation
- Delivers real-time captions for events
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Suitable for various event types
- Supports integration with 30+ RSI platforms
Cons
- Limited customization options for specific industries
3. Kudo
Kudo offers both AI-driven and human-assisted translations, giving users the flexibility to choose the solution that fits their event. It’s widely used in industries where high accuracy is needed.
Key Features
- Combines AI and human interpreters for greater accuracy
- Real-time captions and translations for meetings
Pros
- High-quality translations
- Suitable for sensitive or technical content
Cons
- Higher costs
4. Interprefy
Interprefy focuses on providing live interpretation services that blend AI technology with professional interpreters. It’s a good choice for larger, complex events where accuracy is crucial.
Key Features
- Supports both AI and human translations
- Ideal for large conferences and multilingual events
Pros
- High reliability
- Flexible translation options
Cons
- Higher costs
5. AI-Media
AI-Media offers AI-powered captioning and speech translation for live events, making it ideal for webinars and virtual conferences with large audiences.
Key Features
- Real-time captioning and speech-to-text capabilities
- Supports a wide range of industries
Pros
- Accurate captioning services
- Strong language support
Cons
- Some delays in real-time translation
How Dansk IT Used AI Translation at a 2,000-Attendee Conference
Hans Ravnkjær Larsen, Chief of Events at Dansk IT, explains how Denmark’s leading IT association used AI-powered live translation and multilingual audio (English, Danish, and German) to engage 2,000 attendees at its annual Copenhagen conference in this case study.
How to Choose the Right Live Translation App
When selecting a live AI language translation tool, it’s essential to assess your specific needs, including event size, language coverage, and the complexity of the content. Tools like Boostlingo Events provide scalability and seamless integration for larger multilingual events with general topics. However, human-assisted translation may be necessary for more technical or sensitive industries, like healthcare or legal. To ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations like HIPAA. Consider the balance between cost, ease of integration, and the accuracy required for your event to make the best choice.
To dive deeper into the benefits and limitations of live AI translation tools, check out our Buyers Guide for RSI and AI for Events to learn more.
Challenges of Using AI for Live Translation
AI translation tools bring speed and accessibility, but they also come with limitations. Accuracy and cultural sensitivity remain major challenges. Generative AI often struggles with specialized content, nuanced phrasing, and regional variations in language. Important meaning can be lost without the context awareness that professional interpreters provide.
Human interpreting continues to be the gold standard for high-stakes events such as medical conferences in North America, legal hearings in Europe, and technical summits in Asia. The key is to evaluate the risks and decide when AI translation can stand alone and when it should be combined with human expertise.
Read our article on the Benefits and Limitations of AI-Generated Translated Captions to learn more.
Ready to See AI Live Translation in Action?
Book a personalized demo and discover how AI-powered translation and captioning can make your next conference, webinar, or hybrid event more inclusive and engaging in Europe, North America, or Asia.
