On Dec. 14, SK telecom unveiled the “A. Interpretation Call” service, which enables real-time interpretation during calls, and is preparing to sequentially update users’ apps.
Initially targeting Apple iPhone users, the service supports four languages: Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. Plans are in place to expand the range of supported devices and languages in the future. Notably, the service is accessible to the recipient regardless of their telecom carrier or smartphone operating system (OS), and even without the A. app installed.
This service is particularly beneficial for foreigners residing in Korea, who often face language barriers when communicating with hospitals or government offices. The service is expected to facilitate smoother access to information and easier appointment scheduling.
However, there are still areas for improvement. During a call, background noise from another person was mistakenly picked up by the smartphone, causing translation errors. This issue arose because the AI struggled to exclusively recognize the user's voice. To enhance interpretation accuracy, conversations in quiet, solitary environments appear necessary.
Additionally, there were some rough patches in translating English into Korean. This seemed to stem from lower recognition rates of English spoken by non-native Korean speakers during testing.
Although separate translation apps or video call tools for interpretation existed previously, A. Interpretation Call is the first in Korea to offer real-time interpretation over phone calls. There is a similar app in Australia, but SK telecom’s service is distinctively optimized for the Korean language.
The Information Technology industry is witnessing fierce competition in AI-based real-time interpretation services that are practical for everyday life. Samsung Electronics announced plans to include an AI Live Interpretation Call feature in Galaxy smartphones equipped with On-device AI. Samsung highlighted the absence of a need for separate app installation and assured security, as call contents do not get transmitted to external servers like the cloud. The feature is expected to debut in the upcoming Galaxy S24 flagship smartphone series as early as January next year. Some even speculate that a world where special foreign language training is unnecessary may be on the horizon.