Google Earbuds With Real-Time Translation Aren’t Much More Than a Gimmick
Photo Credit: A promotional image of Google Pixel Buds. The headset is uneven overall, and its translation feature isn't ready for primetime. Google
Skift Take
The future you're promised is never the future you get. Google is touting artificial intelligence-powered translation capability as a transformative feature for its users, but it's really just an impractical repackaging of existing technology.
When Google first showed off its Google Pixel Buds product with real-time translation functionality, it seemed like the device could be a powerful tool for global travelers.
Instant translations delivered by Google Assistant and Google Translate right to a traveler's ears is something of a killer-app in theory. In practice, however, technological limitations prove the focus on translation is more of a clever marketing gimmick for the lackluster device instead of a transformational feature for travelers.
Skift received a Google Pixel Buds unit earlier this week, and has tested its translation feature. While the user experience with the headset is disappointing overall, the translation feature works basically as advertised.
The devil is in the details, though.
The Basics
Let's say you're visiting Rome and want to order a cup of gelato, but don't speak Ital
