Google Reportedly Working on New Live Translation Feature for Android XR

Google is reportedly testing a new ‘Listening area’ mode for Google Live Translate on Android XR, something that sounds like a headlining feature for the company’s upcoming fleet of smart glasses.

Google has always said it’s bringing real-time translations to its Android XR, so no surprise there, as the company promises its slate of smart glasses will serve up both translated audio matching the tone and pitch of the speaker’s voice as well as the ability to translate text from things like menus and signs.

Now, digging into the 10.32.66 version of the Google Translate app, Android Authority has discovered Google Live Translate is reportedly being developed to offer two distinct listening modes: ‘Front only’, which translates speech directly in front of the wearer for one-on-one conversations, and ‘Surrounding area’, which translates speech throughout the nearby area, potentially using the glasses’ full microphone array.

Granted, the feature was found in apk code, which means there’s no guarantee it will ship. It does however seem to fit into Google’s broader effort to expand Android XR ahead of upcoming smart glasses, which thus far include a variety of frames shipping this fall from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Additionally, frames from Gucci parent company Kering are also reportedly in development.

Considering Google’s strength in live translation, it’s a good bet the company will be looking to pack in every bit of functionality as it seeks to compete with Meta’s fleet of smart glasses, which also feature a live translation feature.

Notably, live translation on Meta’s smart glasses is more akin to the ‘Front only’ one-on-one interactions described above, which work by serving up translated speech to the user through the glasses’ open-ear speakers as the other participant can see translated transcript on a user’s smartphone.