In recent years, artificial intelligence has dramatically transformed how we create, distribute, and consume audiovisual content across languages. Thanks to advances in automatic speech recognition (ASR), machine translation (MT), and synthetic dubbing, videos can now be subtitled or dubbed into dozens of languages at lightning speed and low cost. This revolution is opening doors for global audiences to explore films, series, documentaries, online courses, and countless other forms of content that were once locked behind language barriers.
However, while AI is doing wonders to make audiovisual content accessible in major world languages — think English, Spanish, German, French — it still often falls short when it comes to less widely spoken or regional languages. And that’s not a trivial shortcoming. It’s a critical gap that, if left unaddressed, risks sidelining entire cultures and communities in the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.
The promise of AI for global audiovisual access
AI tools have made it easier than ever for content creators, distributors, and platforms to reach multilingual audiences. Automated subtitle and dubbing workflows can quickly localize videos, enabling faster launches into new markets and meeting the growing demand for content in viewers’ native tongues. For many widely spoken languages, the quality of AI-generated subtitles and voiceovers has improved significantly, providing understandable — if sometimes imperfect — results.
This is a huge step forward in democratizing access to knowledge, entertainment, and cultural experiences. Educational platforms can now offer lectures in dozens of languages. Indie filmmakers can distribute their stories globally. Social media creators can build international audiences without huge localization budgets.
The risk of leaving less-used languages behind
Yet for all this progress, AI tools are still heavily optimized for languages with abundant training data. Machine learning models require a vast corpora of text and speech to learn from — and that simply doesn’t exist in equal measure for every language.
Languages spoken by smaller communities or with more complex linguistic structures frequently get lower-quality results from automated systems. Errors in meaning, unnatural phrasing, or outright mistranslations are still common. In some cases, automated tools simply don’t support these languages at all.
This matters immensely. Every language carries unique ways of seeing and describing the world. When video content is only available in a handful of dominant languages, we lose the opportunity to engage with the diverse cultural perspectives embedded in other tongues. It also means that speakers of less widely used languages may have limited access to global conversations, educational resources, or entertainment in their native language.
Promoting language diversity and cultural discovery
Making audiovisual content available in more languages isn’t just about inclusivity. It’s about enriching everyone’s experience of the world. When audiences can explore stories, documentaries, and artistic works from cultures outside the global mainstream, they gain new insights and foster empathy. Promoting diverse language content helps preserve linguistic heritage and encourages cross-cultural understanding.
By investing in subtitling and dubbing for less-used languages, we support the vitality of these languages in the digital age. This means more than relying on generic machine translation — it means thoughtfully curating language access to ensure authenticity, nuance, and respect for cultural context.
Why human translators and linguists still matter
This is where human expertise remains indispensable. Professional translators, linguists, and subtitling specialists bring a deep understanding of cultural nuance, idioms, humor, and the emotional undercurrents that automated systems still struggle to capture — especially in languages where machine translation quality lags.
For less-resourced languages, human professionals often build the very linguistic data that future AI models will rely on. They craft glossaries, set standards, and maintain linguistic quality in ways that machines can’t replicate on their own.
Even as AI tools improve, human translators are essential for ensuring quality, cultural sensitivity, and audience trust. In many cases, especially for artistic or sensitive content, they’re the only way to achieve translations that truly resonate.
A more connected, global future
AI is undeniably changing the landscape of audiovisual accessibility for the better. But to build a truly global, inclusive, and culturally rich media ecosystem, we must go beyond the convenience of automated solutions. That means intentionally supporting less-used languages, funding professional human translation, and promoting diverse content that might not get mainstream attention but is profoundly valuable.
When we combine the speed and scale of AI with the skill and insight of human experts, we get closer to a world where language is no longer a barrier — and where everyone has the opportunity to share in the stories, knowledge, and creativity that make our world so vibrant.
If you’re looking to bring your content to life in less commonly supported languages — or ensure that your subtitling and translation go beyond what automated tools can offer — we’d love to help. Visit Amara.org to explore how our professional subtitling and translation services can make your videos accessible, authentic, and impactful for audiences everywhere. Contact us today at client-services@amara.org to tell us more about your project and our dedicated team will assist you in finding the best subtitling solutions to keep your content engaging and truly accessible to audiences across the globe.
