WhatsApp is testing on-device live translation and voice message transcription for Android

WhatsApp is reportedly working on two new features for its Android app: live on-device translation of messages and live transcription of voice messages, according to feature tracker WABetaInfo. Although these features are still in development, they could significantly improve the user experience, especially in multilingual communication and accessibility.

The Live Translation feature, found in WhatsApp for Android in beta version 2.24.15.8, is designed to leverage on-device processing, meaning message data will remain on the user’s device rather than being sent to a server. This approach prioritizes privacy and offers potentially faster translation speeds.

While the feature is initially limited to English and Hindi, it is expected to support more languages ​​in the future. Users may need to download specific language packs to enable translation. Interestingly, WABetaInfo speculates that translation could happen automatically within chats, eliminating the need for users to copy and paste text into external translation apps.

In a separate development, WhatsApp is also testing live transcription of voice messages. This feature, spotted in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.24.15.5, could be crucial for users who prefer audio messages or rely on accessibility.

While the feature isn’t widely available yet (not even for beta testers), it will reportedly display a banner below voice messages prompting users to create a transcription if needed.