# 263 SlatorCon Recap, Cohere’s Big AI Translation Launch, TransPerfect Buys Unbabel

Conference Insights and Key Takeaways

Overview of the Conference

• The discussion opens with a mention of "Command Translate," an enterprise AI translation offering that recently raised significant funding, indicating strong market interest.

• The hosts reflect on their recent experience at Slater Con in Silicon Valley, noting an impressive turnout of over 200 participants.

• The conference featured 25 speakers and panelists, marking it as the largest agenda to date, showcasing a diverse range of topics and expertise.

Venue and Atmosphere

• The event was held in a hotel with excellent conference facilities, successfully selling out exhibition space despite not being in a large exhibition hall.

• Attendees included key industry decision-makers from various tech sectors, emphasizing the importance of localization technology in the region.

Weather and Networking Opportunities

• The weather was described as pleasant for networking outside, which is often rare for conferences. This outdoor space facilitated informal interactions among attendees.

• There were high hopes for similar weather during future events like SlaterCon London, contrasting past experiences with unpredictable weather.

Key Presentations and Discussions

Industry Perspectives

• A key takeaway from the conference was the dichotomy between language solutions integrators and language technology platforms discussed by the hosts.

• Brian Murphy, CEO of Smartling, delivered a data-driven presentation warning against DIY approaches to language projects due to hidden costs and lack of expertise.

Panel Discussion Insights

• A moderated panel featuring representatives from AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud provided insights into foundational platforms' roles in localization efforts.

• Post-panel feedback suggested that startups should focus on building within their niche rather than competing directly with major cloud providers.

Market Trends

• Oracle's stock surge highlighted its growing role alongside other tech giants like Nvidia and Microsoft in infrastructure development relevant to language services.

Launch of Command Translate and Its Impact

Overview of the Launch

• The speaker discusses the timing of the launch of "Command Translate," which allowed for a more open discussion at a conference about multilingual LLMs.

• Multilingualism is emphasized as central to Coher's overall process, highlighting its importance in their operations.

• The launch occurred just days before the conference, allowing for timely discussions on new developments in AI translation technology.

Company Growth and Valuation

• Coher recently raised half a billion dollars, achieving a valuation between six to seven billion dollars, indicating significant growth since their last podcast appearance in fall 2022.

• The speaker reflects on how this timing aligns with major industry events like ChatGPT's launch.

Insights from Conference Presentations

Presentation Highlights

• Kelly delivered an engaging presentation that balanced technical details with accessible explanations for laypeople.

• A lively discussion on AI dubbing technology showcased advancements over the past 12 to 18 months, emphasizing rapid adoption without displacing existing technologies.

Healthcare and Language Services

• Scott Suko from UC Health presented insights into language services within healthcare, stressing human involvement in AI applications.

• A memorable slide depicted a sign language interpreter working under challenging conditions during medical procedures, illustrating real-life implications of interpreting services.

Scale and Complexity of Interpretation Operations

Operational Insights

• UC Health operates at a scale comparable to mid-sized European countries, managing 150 languages annually and nearly one million minutes of remote interpretation monthly.

• They employ over 100 staff members and utilize advanced resources like interpreter iPads to facilitate communication across diverse languages.

AI Agents in Localization: Emerging Trends

Panel Discussion Overview

• A panel moderated by Anna Windam explored the role of AI agents as a new strategic layer in localization processes.

• Discussions highlighted early-stage developments where AI agents are beginning to handle more complex tasks related to workflow and data management.

Advancements in Lip-Sync Technology

Expert Insights on Lip-Syncing

Progression in Language AI Technology

Overview of Recent Developments

• Discussion on the evolution of language AI technology over the past two years, highlighting significant advancements and upcoming launches.

• Mention of a pivotal paper titled "Lip Sync Expert," which has been cited over a thousand times since its publication in 2022, marking it as foundational in speech-to-lip generation technology.

Investor Panel Insights

• Moderation of an investor panel featuring representatives from Bloomberg Capital and SK Telecom Ventures, focusing on investment strategies within the AI sector.

• Exploration of defensible areas within language AI and practical advice for founders and tech builders, providing valuable insights into industry trends.

Networking and Campus Tour

• Description of a networking session following the conference, allowing attendees to connect over food.

• A tour of Meta's expansive campus revealed its impressive size compared to typical office spaces, enhancing understanding of corporate scale in tech.

Future Events and Research Reports

Upcoming Conference Announcement

• Save-the-date announcement for a future conference scheduled for May 21st and 22nd, 2026, in London; emphasis on early booking due to expected high demand.

New Research Report Launch

• Introduction of the "Slater Pro Guide: Translation AI (2025 Edition)," focusing on the shift from task-level AI to outcome-driven solutions in translation.

• The report includes 15 practical applications for translation and localization using AI technologies.

Launch of Multilingual Language Model

Swiss National Initiative

• Announcement regarding Switzerland's first large-scale open multilingual language model developed by ETH Zurich and the Swiss National Supercomputing Center.

• The model is trained on 50 trillion tokens across more than a thousand languages, with significant representation from underrepresented languages like Swiss German and Roman.

Implications for Language Interaction

Translation and Localization Challenges in Education

The State of Translation Programs

• Discussion on the translation aspect of LLMs, highlighting ETH as a notable university for this field.

• Mention of Middlebury University phasing out graduate programs, particularly affecting their renowned Institute of International Studies focused on translation and localization management.

• Context provided about declining enrollment and financial deficits exacerbated by the pandemic, impacting various courses beyond just translation.

• Historical significance of Middlebury's program since the 1950s, producing many localization managers in the Bay Area.

• Assurance that faculty and staff will retain jobs until 2025, with layoffs starting in 2026.

Positive Developments at Slater

• Introduction of Slater's sponsorship for the best thesis award at Zurich University’s translation and localization course, indicating growth amidst industry challenges.

• Suggestion to feature the award winner on an upcoming podcast episode to discuss their work.

Industry Changes: Unbabel Acquisition

Unbabel's Transition

• Announcement that Unbabel has been acquired by TransPerfect, a significant player in the language services industry.

• Overview of Unbabel’s growth since its founding in the 2010s as a well-funded startup known for developing technology and conducting research in language services.

Future Integration Plans

• Expectation that TransPerfect will integrate Unbabel’s AI technologies into its existing global link technology stack over time.

• Notable acquisitions made by Unbabel prior to being acquired, including Lingo 24 and EVS, which contributed to its service revenue.

Tech Updates: Apple AirPod Pro 3 Launch

New Product Announcements

• Brief mention of Apple's launch event featuring AirPod Pro 3; discussion around product naming conventions compared to previous iPhone models.

AirPod Pro 3 Features and INC 5000 Insights

AirPod Pro 3 and Live AI Translation

• The speaker discusses the discomfort of a long flight without effective noise cancellation, highlighting the need for better technology.

• Introduction of AirPod Pro 3's live AI translation feature, allowing conversations between users in different languages.

• Comparison with other brands; the speaker mentions using over-ear headphones instead of AirPods, indicating a preference for comfort.

• Acknowledgment of multiple tech companies launching similar live AI translation features, including Google and Apple.

• Emphasis on reducing friction in technology use to encourage adoption; suggests that seamless integration may lead to increased usage.

Technology Behind Noise Cancellation

• Discussion about the technology behind noise cancellation in AirPods, described as an "anti-noise" mechanism that filters out background sounds.

• The speaker expresses fascination with how this technology works and its effectiveness in real-world applications.

INC 5000 List Analysis

• Transition to discussing the INC 5000 list, which ranks privately held companies in the US based on revenue growth over three years.

• Identification of 11 language solution companies from the language industry featured on the list, including LSIs and language AI firms.

Notable Companies on the List

• Mention of established LSIs like Proprio Language Services, Boost Lingo, and CQ Fluency consistently appearing since 2022.

• Proprio ranked at position 428; notable as few companies have made it into the top 500 historically within this sector.

Growth Rates and Layoffs

• Overview of other companies' rankings: Boost Lingo (ranked around 1,460), Fed Writers (around rank 1,600), Wordley (around rank 1,700).

• Introduction of new entrants like Wordley and Cesco Linguistic Services to this year's ranking for the first time.

Challenges Faced by Top Companies

• Despite impressive growth rates (Proprio at a staggering three-year growth rate of 952%), there are challenges such as layoffs due to acquisitions.

SIRCOM's Contact Centers and Podcast Updates

Overview of SIRCOM's Operations

• SIRCOM operates large contact centers where employees work on-site rather than remotely, indicating a traditional approach to customer service operations.

• The mention of "big contact centers" suggests that SIRCOM values in-person collaboration among its workforce, which may enhance team dynamics and communication.

Podcast Conclusion and Future Plans

• The podcast concludes with a promise of returning with exciting guests and news updates, hinting at ongoing engagement with the audience.