Roblox, with over 70 million daily active users, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of translating chats in nearly real-time with a latency of approximately 100 milliseconds. The platform’s native large language model (LLM) supports translating any combination of 16 languages, emphasizing accuracy, fluency, and contextual understanding.
Daniel Sturman, Chief Technology Officer at Roblox, stated, “Using AI to automate real-time translations in text chat removes language barriers and brings more people together, no matter where they live in the world.” The tool currently supports 16 languages, including English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, and Spanish.
The translation feature automatically activates in chat boxes, translating messages in real-time to the user’s default language when multiple languages are detected. A translation icon allows users to toggle between translated and original messages with a simple click.
During the development of the AI tool, Roblox faced challenges with handling combinations of 16 languages efficiently. Instead of creating 256 different models (16 x 16), the company adopted a unified, transformer-based architecture for the LLM. Sturman explained this approach as akin to having multiple translation apps specialized in groups of similar languages, all accessible through a single interface.
The system boasts unique features, including the ability to accurately translate sentences with mixed language usage. Human evaluators were employed to train the model on modern slang and trending phrases in each supported language continuously.
Furthermore, Roblox implemented a ‘back translation’ technique for less common translation pairs, ensuring accuracy by comparing translated content with its original version. This process, aided by labeled data, enhances the model’s learning and expands its translation capabilities.
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