October 14, 2026
Google Translate grows to nearly 250 languages after starting as an AI experiment in 2006
Google has grown Translate to nearly 250 languages in 20 years: in 2006 it launched the service as an AI experiment.
Google Translate works with nearly 250 languages. In 2006, Google launched it as an AI experiment.
Twenty years ago, machine translation was an engineering experiment. Today it is an everyday tool: people read a foreign website or a street sign on a trip by themselves.
An anniversary roundup. For the 20th anniversary, Google published 20 facts about the service, tips for using it and new features. The piece came out on Oct 13, 2026.
Translate is only a few languages short of an even 250.
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