Instagram has not officially announced the addition of five more Indian languages to its AI-powered reel translation feature. However, Meta (Instagram’s parent company) has been expanding language support across its platforms, making such an announcement likely in the future.
The technology uses automatic speech recognition to create captions from the original audio, then translates these captions into the viewer’s preferred language. Meta’s AI models, like SeamlessM4T, power this translation and are designed to handle conversational speech naturally.
For Viewers: You can watch reels with automatic subtitles in your language or listen to AI-dubbed audio that mimics the creator’s voice. A simple toggle button lets you switch between the original audio and translated versions. This makes content from different language communities accessible to everyone.
For Creators: The system automatically generates captions in your original language and makes your reels available for translation without any extra work. This helps you reach audiences across India and beyond, potentially increasing your followers and engagement.
Likely Languages to Be Added
If five more Indian languages are added, they would probably include Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Odia. Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada already have good support on Meta’s platforms.
How It Works
Viewers simply need to update their Instagram app and look for a “See Translation” button or caption icon on reels. Tapping this activates translated subtitles or dubbed audio in your preferred language.
Creators don’t need to do anything special. Just create and post reels in your native language as usual. The AI handles transcription and translation automatically. Your public reels will automatically be eligible for translation.
The feature requires an internet connection since translation happens on Meta’s servers. It will roll out gradually, so availability may vary. While the AI continues to improve, it may struggle with heavy accents or slang initially.