Google Unveils AI-Powered Language Learning Tools to Revolutionize On-the-Go Education

Google launches AI tools for practicing languages through personalized lessons | TechCrunch

Google on Tuesday is releasing three new AI experiments aimed at helping people learn to speak a new language in a more personalized way. While the experiments are still in the early stages, it's possible that the company is looking to take on Duolingo with the help of Gemini, Google's multimodal large language model. The first experiment helps you quickly learn specific phrases you need in the moment, while the second experiment helps you sound less formal and more like a local. The third experiment allows you to use your camera to learn new words based on your surroundings. Google notes that one of the most frustrating parts of learning a new language is when you find yourself in a situation where you need a specific phrase that you haven't learned yet. With the new "Tiny Lesson" experiment, you can describe a situation, such as "finding a lost passport," to receive vocabulary and grammar tips tailored to the context. You can also get suggestions for responses, like "I don't know where I lost it" or "I want to report it to the police." The next experiment, "Slang Hang," wants to help people sound less like a textbook when speaking a new language. Google says that when you learn a new language, you often learn to speak formally, which is why it's experimenting with a way to teach people to speak more colloquially, and with local slang. With this feature, you can generate a realistic conversation between native speakers and see how the dialogue unfolds one message a time. For example, you can learn through a conversation where a street vendor is chatting with a customer, or a situation where a pair of two long-lost friends reuniting on the subway. You can hover over terms you're not familiar with to learn about what they mean and how they're used. Google says that the experiment occasionally misuses certain slang and sometimes makes up words, so users need to cross-reference them with reliable sources. The third experiment, "Word Cam," lets you snap a photo of your surroundings, after which Gemini will detect objects and label them in the language you're learning. The feature also gives you additional words that you can use to describe the objects. Google says that sometimes you just need words for the things in front of you, because it can show you how much you just don't know yet. For instance, you may know the word for "window," but you might not know the word for "blinds." The company notes that the idea behind these experiments is to see how AI can be used to make independent learning more dynamic and personalized. The new experiments support the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (China), Chinese (Hong Kong), Chinese (Taiwan), English (AU), English (UK), English (US), French (Canada), French (France), German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (LatAm), Spanish (Spain) and Turkish. The tools can be accessed via Google Labs.

Google Takes Aim at Duolingo With AI Tools To Help You Learn New Languages

Expertise Community Solar, State Solar Policy, Solar Cost and Accessibility, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Video Games, Home Internet for Gaming Google is debuting three new AI experiments that are intended to help users learn foreign languages on the go. The tools utilize Google's Gemini large language model to identify objects and situations in a user's immediate environment and provide translations that could help users ask for help or spark a conversation. II you want to give the new experiments a try, you can find them on the Google Labs webpage. Google experiments aren't applications -- which means you don't have to download anything to get started. You can just click into the experiment you want to try and begin typing in your prompts. Read more: Best AI Chatbots of 2025 In debuting these new features, Google is going head-to-head with other foreign language-learning services that are also focusing on AI tools. Duolingo's CEO recently announced that the company "will be going AI-first," and OpenAI's ChatGPT has the ability to begin new foreign-language conversations at any time upon request. Google's new Tiny Lesson tool allows users to describe a situation they're in to learn vocabulary and grammar that can help describe a problem to the locals. Using the provided context, the tool will provide suggestions that aid users in understanding how to ask for help if they haven't learned specific phrases tailored to their current issue. The Slang Hang tool promotes casual conversation over rigid sentence structure and grammatical agreement, teaching users how to drop the formalities and adapt a more colloquial way of speaking a foreign language. Slang Hang simulates conversations between native speakers and lets users discover what any words or phrases in the series of messages mean. The AI model sometimes misidentifies or hallucinates words, so you'll need to double-check with another source when using this feature. The third and final new tool, Word Cam, uses Gemini to detect objects in photographs you take -- providing you translations for your surroundings in the foreign language you're learning. This feature helps you describe the world around you, but it's possible that Gemini may not accurately label every single object in a picture you take. It's still worth double-checking the translations you're provided against another source while using Word Cam. The language-learning experiments were created as a way to "inspire developers using Gemini for building different use cases and experiences," Google representative Maggie Shiels told CNET. This particular set of experiments is meant to focus on using the multimodal LLM as a way to promote bite-sized lessons on the go. Google's new features aren't launching for every language -- at least, not yet. Tiny Lesson, Slang Hang and Word Cam currently support translations for the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish languages. Shiels said that Tiny Lesson, Slang Hang and Word Cam -- like other Google Labs experiments -- are not products and are not meant to be permanent features. "This is a limited-time tool that will eventually sunset," she told CNET. "We hope that developers have fun playing around."

New Google Labs experiments help you learn new languages in 'bite-sized' lessons

My wife and I like to travel to other countries, but we always face a familiar obstacle -- how to learn the language well enough to converse with people. We've tried taking language lessons, yet we invariably run into situations where we can't find the right words to express ourselves. Now, Google has launched a trio of translation tools that could help overcome this obstacle. Also: Want a quick daily podcast based on your interests? Try Google's latest AI experiment Launched on Tuesday as Google Labs experiments, the "Little Language Lessons" are designed to assist you in specific situations, especially when you're traveling in a foreign country. The three tools are powered by Google's Gemini AI to provide the right words and phrases just when you need them. First up is experiment No. 1, known as Tiny Lesson. This one promises to provide you with relevant vocabulary, phrases, and grammar tips for any situation. After selecting the target language, describe the action or purpose for which you want help. For example, you might submit a phrase like "finding the restroom," "taking a taxi," or "I need a doctor." Also: Your Meta Ray-Bans just got a big update for free - and it feels like science fiction In response, Google shows translations for each of the main words in the phrase, the entire phrase, and several variations. When I submitted the phrase "I need a doctor," it translated the word "doctor," the phrase itself, and alternate phrases like "I don't feel well" and "Where is the nearest hospital?" You'll not only see the translations but also hear them by selecting the audio icon. Google also provides tips on how to express yourself with your phrase in mind. You'll learn which words and phrases to use and which ones to avoid. The goal is to figure out how to best express yourself to ensure that you're understood. Also: 5 easy Gemini settings tweaks to protect your privacy from AI For this skill, you're able to choose among a variety of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. You can also select specific regions, such as the UK or Australia for English, Hong Kong or Taiwan for Chinese, and France or Canada for French. Next on the list is experiment No. 2, called Slang Hang. Here, the lesson tries to teach you common expressions, idioms, and regional slang based on an AI-generated conversation between native speakers. For this, choose the target language and specific dialect, if necessary. Also: Apple might add live language translation to AirPods this year - how that'll work In response, the tool describes a scenario involving two people. The AI then shows you what one person says in reaction to the scene. Each time you press the spacebar or tap a link on the page, the conversation bounces from one person to the other. And each piece of dialogue contains slang and popular expressions to help you learn the local idioms. Also: Google's One AI Premium plan with Gemini Advanced is now free for students - for an entire year Here, you can also select the audio icon to hear each person speak. This tool supports Chinese, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Finally, experiment No. 3 is dubbed Word Cam. This one prompts you to snap a photo of your surroundings to learn how to translate items in the photo. On your phone, take a photo of an area with items you want to investigate. The tool then identifies each item in the photo with the name in both the source and target languages. Tap a specific item in the picture, and Google describes it using different adjectives translated into the target language. Each word also includes an entire sentence that you can speak to another person about the item. Also: Why I just added Gemini 2.5 Pro to the very short list of AI tools I pay for As with the other tools, you're able to listen to the translation of each word and sentence. Word Cam also handles the same languages supported by Tiny Lesson. Each of the three tools seemed to deliver useful translations, at least as far as I can tell. Since I'm not fluent in any of the languages, I couldn't vouch for the accuracy of the translations. Also: I tested this $700 AI device that can translate 40 languages in real time On the downside, I did run into a persistent glitch. Clicking or tapping the audio icon to hear the translation failed to work properly. Sometimes I'd hear the translation, but most times, I'd get an error telling me to retry. There are a couple of pitfalls with the Little Language Lessons. First, they're an early-stage experiment, seemingly designed more for developers. Second, they rely on generative AI, which can be unreliable. For those reasons, the translations may not always be accurate or complete. To be on the safe side, you'll want to check the results with other sources. Also: Google's viral AI podcast tool can chat in over 50 languages now and it aced my Spanish test Still, you may want to try the Little Language Lessons the next time you need to speak with someone in a different language. And hopefully, the other person will understand if the AI doesn't quite get it 100% right. To try these tools out yourself, sign in to the Google Labs page with your Google account. You can certainly check out the tools on your computer, but you'll likely want to use them on your iPhone or Android phone when you're out and about. Scroll or swipe down the Labs home page and select the "Try it now" button for Little Language Lessons. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Google's New AI Tools Aim to Make Language Learning Easier on the Go

Every now and then, Google tests some interesting applications of its AI models via the Google Labs platform. The company's latest set of experiments aim to make language learning more fun and easier in your everyday life. The three new tools, collectively called Little Language Lessons, are powered by Google Gemini and can be accessed via the Google Labs page on any browser. With Tiny Lesson, you can select a language and add a scenario to get words, phrases, and tips. In our test, we asked for Hindi words and phrases commonly used during grocery shopping. The results were accurate, and the tips section covered some essential grammar points. With Slang Hang, you get to select a target language and, at times, a dialect. If you don't select a dialect for supported languages, the tool will pick one randomly. The next page will automatically generate a conversation between two acquaintances. You'll have to hit the space bar to generate sentences one after the other; you can also click the speaker button to hear the sentence out loud. Unfortunately, you can't set a custom scenario, but you can always hit the refresh button to pull up a new automated one. Finally, the Word Cam tool lets you launch a camera, click a photo, and find words for objects in the picture. Google will label each object with the translated word; clicking on the label can help you learn more words and phrases associated with it. The Little Language Lessons "is just an early exploration," Google says. Like any other Labs experiment, these are "built with Google AI to inspire new use cases and UX paradigms for AI." They might only be available for a limited time, shut down occasionally, and generate bizarre, offensive, or inaccurate content, Google warns. Google might have just given us a preview of how AI can transform language learning, as other companies also lean into it. The three-part experiment arrives after popular app Duolingo announced its transition to being an "AI-First" company. In a memo shared with employees and on LinkedIn, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn said that the company will gradually eliminate all contract workers whose work can be replicated using AI.

Learning a new language? Google's latest experiment makes it effortless and kinda fun

Google continues to expand the ways it integrates its AI into everyday life, and its latest experiment aims to make learning a new language a little more personal and practical. The company has announced a new set of features called Little Language Lessons, which use generative AI to help people pick up vocabulary and expressions in bite-sized, real-world contexts. According to Google, Little Language Lessons are not intended to replace formal study methods, such as textbooks or courses. Instead, it focuses on helping users weave small, manageable language-learning moments into daily life. The experiments include three primary tools: Google claims the goal is to spark curiosity and encourage frequent, low-pressure learning moments, whether that's while ordering coffee or describing things seen during the day.

The latest experiment from Google Labs uses Gemini to help teach you a new language

NotebookLM's AI podcasts go multilingual in Google's latest update Summary Google has launched three new AI-powered language learning tools, Tiny Lesson, Slang Hang, and Word Cam, under its "Little Language Experiments" initiative. Tiny Lesson helps learners recall situation-specific vocabulary, Slang Hang generates realistic native speaker conversations, and Word Cam identifies and labels real-world objects in the learner's target language using photos. These experiments are part of Google Labs' ongoing efforts to enhance education with AI and are currently available for public testing. Like most companies, Google's team has clearly been working overtime to integrate AI into its services as much as possible. While AI has been creeping into nearly every field you can think of, education has been impacted significantly. One of these AI tools includes Google's very own AI-powered note-taking app, NotebookLM. While the tool has managed to become a household name for many students and researchers in the past few months and continues to grow in popularity, it didn't start that way. In July 2023, it was introduced as an experimental project by Google Labs under the code name "Project Tailwind." Given the tool's success, Google ended up dropping its experimental label. Related Google Gemini: 5 ways to use Google's AI-powered assistant day-to-day It can make a lot of everyday tasks a lot easier Posts Of course, NotebookLM is far from the only Google Labs experiment. Unfortunately, a lot of them get nuked before they even get the chance to shine. Google Lab's latest experiment was just announced, and from what it looks like, it's aiming to take on Duolingo to help you learn a new language. I played around with it, and I'm convinced that it might just make its way past testing and become a staple for language learners. Google's Little Language Experiments are clearly coming for Duolingo As announced via a blog post on Google for Developers, the company debuted three new AI experiments, which Google calls Little Language Experiments. These are designed to help make the tedious process of learning a language easier. All three experiments were a result of Google's engineers experimenting with the Gemini API, which grants them access to the latest generative models from Google. This means that all three of the bite-sized learning experiments are powered by Google's multimodal large language model (LLM), Gemini. Despite being a writer and working with words for a living, there have been many times when my mind blanks out completely, and a word or phrase is on the tip of my tongue -- and I just can't quite recall it in the moment, no matter what I do. Now, imagine the same situation with a slight caveat: you find yourself needing a specific word or phrase, but it's in a language you're still learning. This is exactly the kind of scenario Google Labs' first experiment, Tiny Lesson, was designed for. By describing a situation, like "booking a taxi," Tiny Lesson compiles useful vocabulary, phrases, and grammar tips in the language you're learning based on your scenario. Whether you're learning a new language using a gamified platform like Duolingo or the traditional way using a textbook, there's something common between both methods -- you'll notice you end up sounding too formal. Even once you start feeling comfortable conversing in the language, there's always a certain stiffness that can make your conversations feel too robotic. While one way to get rid of the formal textbook language is through real-life interactions, that can be a challenge for many too. The second experiment of the Little Language Lessons, called Slang Hang, can help with this. Slang Hang allows you to "generate a realistic conversation between native speakers." You can then analyze the conversation and hover over highlighted terms and learn their literal meanings, as well as when they're used. The conversation will be generated in your target language, though you can also choose to translate it into your native language. What's cool about Slang Hang is that the scenarios generated are all unique and could be as mundane as "two coworkers meeting on the subway" to "a pair of long-lost friends unexpectedly reuniting at an exotic pet show." When I tried it, here's the scenario I got: Meredith, a marine biologist, is inspecting a newly discovered, bioluminescent coral reef with Kai, a local fisherman who stumbled upon it. They're currently aboard Kai's boat, anchored just outside the reef's perimeter. Meredith is buzzing with excitement, while Kai is cautiously optimistic about the potential tourism. While the Tiny Lessons experiment is designed to help you learn situation-specific words and phrases so they're never stuck on the tip of your tongue when you need them, what if you don't have a specific situation in mind? Instead, you'd like to figure out words for things in front of you (or related words). Word Cam, the last bite-sized experiment Google announced, can help with this. With this experiment, all you need to do is snap a photo, and leave the rest to Gemini. The AI assistant will detect objects in your photo, label them in your target language, and also provide you with additional words you can use to describe them. All three of the experiments under Little Language Lessons are just an "early exploration." However, Google states that such experiments hint at exciting possibilities for the future. You can try all three of these experiments for yourself by heading to this Google Labs webpage.

Google's new AI language tool could change how we learn languages -- and Duolingo should be worried

Bringing the fight to Duolingo, Google is releasing three new AI experiments with a focus on teaching people languages in a more personalized way. These experiments are still very much in their formative stages, only available through Google's early access AI Labs. This is where Google uploads experimental tools that show the kind of technology it's working on for the public to test. Currently called Little Language Lessons, this new idea was developed with Google Gemini and offers three different experimental tools. The first is called Tiny Lesson. This offers two boxes, one to choose the language you want to learn and a second where you can input a theme (with a limit of 50 characters). It then offers a list of words you need to learn, with pronunciations, meanings and audio to hear how it sounds. The tool will also offer full sentences with the meanings and audio and an explanation on tenses and context as well. The second tool, known as Slang Hang, lets you choose a country. This will then produce a conversation between two imaginary people using slang words throughout, which you can click on to get a full explanation of the meaning and context. Google has warned this section can be prone to AI hallucinations and potentially make up slang or misunderstand meanings. If you are going to use it, double-check any terms before you try and impress locals with them! The final tool is Word Cam. This is similar to Google's image translation tool, where you can take a photo of text in a different language and get a translation. With this new option, you can take a photo, and Google will provide the terms in the chosen language for different things you can see. For example, take a photo of a fruit market and choose Spanish, and you'll get the terms in Spanish for each of the fruits. It is not clear if this will ever become its own app or even just an extension of Google's Gemini tool. However, you can currently access all three parts via Google Labs. So far, the tool is available in a wide range of languages, including English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, and more. There is also the ability to drill down to specific regional versions of languages, which is especially important for the slang learning tool.

Google and Duolingo think AI can change the way we learn languages. Are they right?

AI continues to expand its reach into our lives, and language learning is next on the list. This week brought big developments from both Google and Duolingo on that front. On Google's end, the search giant launched new Gemini-powered AI tools for users to learn foreign languages. Dubbed Little Language Lessons, the experimental feature offers three interactive lessons that "personalize language learning." For instance, "Tiny Lesson" can help you learn phrases for specific situations (such as losing your passport), while "Slang Hang" helps users learn local slang for less-stuffy conversation. Finally, "Word Cam" lets Gemini look at objects in your photos and labels them in the language you're learning. Duolingo, on the other hand, is going full speed ahead with generative AI. The company announced this week that it would stop relying on human contractors for "work that AI can handle," while also committing to using AI in hiring and performance reviews. On top of that, Duolingo announced on Wednesday that it used generative AI to come up with 148 new language learning courses, doubling its total course offerings. The large language models behind Google Gemini and other popular AI tools have proved particularly adept at translation. Duolingo certainly believes the technology has big potential for language learning. Of course, you don't have to look far to find people on social media responding negatively to the news. On X, some users are asking their peers to delete the app for going all-in on AI language learning. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Learning another language is an inherently social activity, something a person usually does if they want to interact with other humans on a deeper level. Practically speaking, language learning usually requires human-to-human engagement. For its part, Google says it's not trying to replace human instruction. A Google blog post reads, "These experiments aren't about replacing traditional study, but about complementing it: helping people build habits, stay engaged, and weave learning into their everyday lives."

Google coming for Duolingo as it launches language learning feature

Learning a new language is one of those goals that many people share, but is hard to achieve in practice. Tools like Duolingo have gained popularity by gamifing the language learning experience, but now Google has taken its own approach, rolling out an experimental set of playful language learning tools powered by its Gemini AI. Google describes the new feature, called Little Language Lessons, as "a collection of three bite-sized learning experiments, all powered by Google's Gemini models." The idea is to tweak language tips to the particular context you're currently in -- such as visiting a restaurant, taking a flight, or dealing with a travel problem like a lost passport. Recommended Videos The Tiny Lesson experiment lets you input the language you're trying to learn and the context you're in, then gives you vocabulary words, phrases, and some helpful tips which give you more information about topics like politeness or how to phrase a request. At the bottom of each section, you can hit the See More button to bring up even more entries, giving you a quick overview of key words and phrases for your current activity. The Slang Hang experiment will be appealing to those looking to practice their language skills in a more natural, casual way. It generates simulated conversations between two native speakers, including the kinds of slang and casual phrases that people use in real life but that don't always appear in textbooks. The option to translate each section of text helps explain any phrases you don't recognize or understand. Finally, the Word Cam experiment might be the most dramatic feature, as you can use it to take a photo with your phone camera and then have it identify objects in your surroundings. It'll show you the words for those objects in your chosen language, making it quick way to pull up a bunch of relevant vocabulary based on what you're seeing. The current number of supported languages is limited depending on which of the three experiments you try out, but includes Chinese, French, Spanish, German, English, Portuguese, and Russian. You can also select particular dialects for some languages, such as Austrian for German or Argentinian for Spanish, which is helpful for further localization. You can try out the Little Language Lessons on Google Labs, though Google warns users that this is an early-stage experiment and, as content generated by AI, they should check any information with reliable sources. Please enable Javascript to view this content

Can Google's new AI experiment help me learn a language?

Table of Contents Table of Contents Enter Google Getting the hang of slang Point and shoot Am I speaking German yet? I've lived in Germany for around a decade now, and an enduring source of shame for me is my rather underwhelming German language skills. Like many language learners, I've reached the point where I can understand what's said to me, make casual conversation, and handle everyday situations, but I've never really achieved the level of comfort with the language and the breadth of vocabulary that's required for true fluency. I'd love to improve my language skills, but I've struggled to commit the time and resources for intensive classes. But perhaps there's a solution hiding in plain sight on my phone. Perhaps AI can help. Recommended Videos Enter Google Google recently announced a collection of three "bite-sized learning experiments" built using its Gemini AI. The experiments are publicly available, free to use, work in a web browser, and currently cover a modest range of languages -- including, fortunately for me, German. I was curious how the experience of using these experiments would differ from interacting with Google Translate. Like practically everyone else I know, I make extensive use of Translate. I especially appreciate the camera feature, which lets you snap a photo of a document such as a letter and see an instant, good-enough translation. I wouldn't rely on these translations for formal documents or for work, but they are extremely useful for quickly getting the gist of long text passages. The first experiment I tried, called Tiny Lesson, lets you input an activity such as "visiting a museum" or "going swimming." It then shows you a number of words and phrases related to that activity, with the option to hear them pronounced as well. There's also a tips section which gives you some pointers on grammar and sentence construction. The results I got were fairly basic, more suited to language beginners, but everything was accurate and relevant. It's nothing you couldn't find using Google Translate -- or, for than matter, and old fashioned paper phrasebook -- but it's convenient, and I can see it being useful for tourists who want to look up a few key words and phrases before heading out to an activity like visiting a restaurant, museum, or beach. Getting the hang of slang The second of Google's experiments, and the one I was most excited to try, is called Slang Hang. It's supposed to teach you about the more casual way that people speak to each other in real-life conversations, rather than the formal kind of interactions typically taught in language textbooks. The idea is to "generate a realistic conversation between native speakers and let users learn from it," Google says, and it sounded like just what I needed to bolster my conversational skills in a practical way. The concept is good, but the reality is strange, to say the least. The lesson generated a few plausible scenarios for me, like two people meeting in a book shop or acquaintances bumping in to each other in a cafe. You can see simulated dialogue between two people, and click the sound icon to hear the text spoken out loud. Unusual slang words or phrases are underlined, and you can click on them for more information and explanation. In the first few scenarios I tried I saw a mix of phrases I didn't know and ones that I've heard on the street, which seems useful. Then the experiment decided to show me a bizarre and confusing exchange that was supposed to be between two strangers in a park who are confronted by a pink pigeon. Puzzled by this, I asked a German friend for his take on it. He acknowledged that the language is technically correct, but said that there was something about the exchange that didn't feel right, and that it read as stiff and stilted. He also mentioned that one of the slang words in the dialogue -- der Knaller -- sounds like something his dad would say, which would be out of place among the more casual and younger-skewing slang that is typical of our city. This points to one of the biggest stumbling blocks for this kind of AI language teaching: whether or not a slang phrase is appropriate for a given situation depends a lot on the social context. Using slang correctly requires fairly sophisticated understanding of social cues, which AI obviously doesn't have. If you're an English native speaker, you can get an idea of how odd some of this dialogue is by looking at the AI generated Slang Hangs intended to teach people English. I tried this out of curiosity and was presented with this slightly off kilter dialogue: Is this technically correct? Yup. Is it using recognizable English slang? Sure is. Is this a conversation that real two human beings might actually have at any point in time? Ehhhhh. Maybe not. Point and shoot I imagine the most popular of the three experiments will be the final one, called Word Cam. You use it to take a photo with your phone camera, and it shows you the words for the objects around you, like a combination of Google Lens and Google Translate. I was impressed by how well this worked, even identifying somewhat esoteric objects like specific pieces of gym equipment. If you click on one of the words presented, the app takes you to a screen showing examples of the word in use in full sentences. Here, again, I was impressed by the relevance and usefulness of the sentences, which were tailored to the specific kinds of things you might want to say about a particular object. I'm not sure that this experiment will be useful, exactly -- I can't imagine too many situations where I'd need to know a word and would rather take a photo than enter an equivalent English term into Google Translate -- but it is neat, and it does work well. It's certainly fun to play with. Am I speaking German yet? The three experiments were entertaining to try out, and I can see some scenarios where they might be helpful, particularly if you're brand new to a language and are trying to dip your toes into the water. But I wish there was more depth. If you're going to make full use of AI, I can envision a similar app which combines hyperlocal information about your particular region to teach you more relevant words. In most of Germany, for example, the word for "I," "ich," is pronounced something like "ish." But in Berlin, where I live, people say it more like "ick." It would be cool for a language app to recognize and share that information. Google's app offers some localization for different slang in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but nowhere near this kind of fine-grained nuance of pronunciation. I'd like to see more social information integrated too. I was testing during Germany's Labor Day, which is famous for two things: rambunctious demonstrations, and all the shops being shut. A truly intelligent language app could give you information about current events or social traditions as part of the process of learning -- and remind you to pick up groceries a day early, which I forget about every year. Without this deeper context, I'm not sure that the AI is adding much to the learning experience. And there's the biggest drawback of all to these kinds of apps, which is that listening and reading in a foreign language is one useful way to learn, but to really grasp a language you need to get out and talk to people. You need to hear real conversations, to fumble your words, to make mistakes, and then find a way to make yourself understood anyway. All the AI in the world can't substitute for some genuine human interaction.

Little Language Lessons uses generative AI to make practicing languages more personal.

Learning a language isn't just about textbooks or exercises. It's about curiosity, and seizing every tiny opportunity to learn -- whether it's ordering a coffee, catching a phrase in conversation, or describing the objects around you. That's the idea behind Little Language Lessons, a collection of bite-sized learning experiments built using our Gemini models. Each experiment explores a different way that AI can support real-world learning: These experiments aren't about replacing traditional study, but about complementing it: helping people build habits, stay engaged, and weave learning into their everyday lives.

Google Just Launched an AI-Powered Duolingo Alternative

Thanks to some smart (and aggressive) marketing, Duolingo has cemented itself as one of the most popular language learning apps in the world. That said, it isn't without competition: There are plenty of alternatives to consider, and if you're peeved about Duolingo's plans to phase out its contract workers in favor of using AI, you might be looking into them. There's now a new competitor for Duo's crown, but it certainly isn't a replacement for the AI-averse. It's also far from an underdog, considering the service comes from none other than Google. Yesterday, the company announced a new AI-powered language learning experience it calls Little Language Lessons. It isn't an app, rather an experiment in Google Labs that offers small doses of lessons and immersion for a handful of different languages. Here's how Google's Little Language Lessons currently work. To start, head to Google Labs' Little Language Lessons site, and sign in with your Google Account. You'll need to agree to a pop-up that warns you that the feature is an early experiment that uses generative AI, and might not always be accurate -- a hallmark flaw of AI tools in general. Google is offering 22 language options (including regional dialects for specific languages). Those include: Once you're in, there are three different types of lessons to try -- or "experiments," as Google calls them. "Experiment no. 001" is "Tiny Lesson," which assists you with words, phrases, and grammar for any situation you can dream up. You choose the language, then type a "purpose or theme" into the provided text field. If you can't think of anything, you can use one of the auto-generated themes Google provides, like "taking a taxi," "scuba diving" or "going on a first date." (Or taking a taxi to scuba dive on your first date.) I went with Portuguese (Portugal) and "taking a taxi." I hit Generate, and Tiny Lesson offered me three categories to work from: Vocabulary, which lists different words I might use ("o táxi" for "the taxi" or "o taxista" for "the taxi driver"); Phrases, such as "Pode chamar um táxi, por favor?" for "Can you call a taxi, please?"; and Tips, like explaining how to use "ter que" to express that I need to go somewhere. Any Portuguese words and phrases have a speaker option to click to hear the proper pronunciation. "Experiment no. 002" is "Slang Hang," which aims to teach you slang and expressions from the regions that speak the language you're learning. For fun, I asked it to run with U.S. English for this one. Slang Hang generates a story between two people, and, following a short premise, generates a conversation between them to demonstrate how they might naturally speak to one another. Expressions and slang are underlined, and, again, you can click the speaker icon to hear them spoken out loud. One side of the conversation is generated at a time, and you press the space bar to move on to the next person's sentence. If you want a new story altogether, you can hit the refresh icon, or click the X to exit entirely. (Slang Hang is currently missing support for Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Portugal), and Turkish.) Finally, there's "Experiment no. 003," or "Word Cam." This feature lets you take and share a photo with the web app to learn how to talk about your surroundings. This works best on a smartphone or tablet, since otherwise you'll only have your computer's front-facing camera to work with. Once you grant access to your camera, snap a photo of your surroundings. Word Cam then analyzes the image, highlights specific elements, and labels them with words in the target language. For example, I took a photo of the street corner, and Word Cam labeled the car as "o carro," the grass as "a relva," and the bush as "arbusto." You can tap each word to pull up a full page about the word in question, as well as examples of how you might use it in different sentences and scenarios. Little Language Lessons is a neat idea, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with it further. Will this take a bite out of Duolingo? I doubt it. But it does offer a more casual and personal approach to language learning, as opposed to Duolingo's more structured lessons. I like that I can choose what I want to learn more about, especially as, in my view, language acquisition is most effective when you're learning words and phrases you actively use on a daily basis. The main concern is learning the wrong words, which could be an issue if the AI decides to hallucinate an incorrect translation. That's where human intervention would come in handy: If lessons were generated by people and fact-checkers, you'd feel a bit more at ease with accepting the information at face value. With these lessons, however, I feel I have to double-check everything it tells me.

Google's new AI tools teach languages like a local

Google is releasing three new AI experiments to help people learn new languages through personalized lessons. The experiments, powered by Google's multimodal large language model, Gemini, aim to provide a more dynamic and tailored learning experience. The first experiment, "Tiny Lesson," allows users to describe a situation and receive context-specific vocabulary and grammar tips. For example, users can input "finding a lost passport" and get suggestions for responses like "I don't know where I lost it" or "I want to report it to the police." The "Slang Hang" experiment helps learners sound less formal and more like locals by generating realistic conversations between native speakers. Users can hover over unfamiliar terms to learn their meanings and usage. However, Google notes that the experiment may occasionally misuse slang or invent words, requiring users to verify the information with reliable sources. The third experiment, "Word Cam," uses the camera to teach new words based on the user's surroundings. Gemini detects objects and labels them in the target language, providing additional vocabulary to describe the objects. For instance, users may learn the word for "blinds" in addition to "window." The new experiments support 18 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, and Spanish. The tools are available on Google Labs.

Google Turns Into a Language Tutor With This New Labs Experiment

How I Turned Google Chrome Into a Beautiful, Minimalist Browser Google has launched Little Language Lessons, a Gemini-powered language learning tool, as one of its Google Labs experiments. It's a chance to get some playful, real-world language practice if you're stuck on your learning journey. Little Language Lessons Goes Beyond Simple Vocabulary As a fledgling AI experimental product, Little Language Lessons is designed to help you learn English or a foreign language more naturally and contextually than typical language apps. Instead of relying on static word lists or repetitive (and boring) grammar exercises, the tool offers three short, interactive lessons that easily mimic everyday situations. Google's The Keyword blog says the bite-sized learning experiments are meant to complement traditional language learning methods. The first experimental lesson, Tiny Lesson, simulates mini conversations. Select the language you want to learn. Then, give Gemini the situation that calls for speaking that language. The chatbot responds with vocabulary, phrases, and grammar tips. You can change the context behind the words anytime. For instance, learn a bit about flagging a taxi and then jump into a few basic phrases for giving directions. Slang Hang uses storytelling to start a conversation. Press the spacebar to continue the dialogue between the characters who pepper their chat with slang in the language of your choice. This real-world exchange can help you quickly grasp the nuances in everyday speech rather than textbook-perfect dialogue. The standout feature is the visual vocabulary builder. With Word Cam, you can snap a photo of an object around you. Gemini will identify it while offering the related vocabulary. For example, choosing English and snapping a picture of a backpack might prompt vocabulary like "zipper," "strap," or "pocket." This type of object-based learning is designed to enhance word retention by connecting language directly to your environment as a learner. Close Currently, the tool offers a mix of languages depending on the experiment you choose among the three. You can use Little Language Lessons from any device that has a browser. Gemini's Edge Makes This an Interesting Learning Tool While the biggest language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise have long offered gamified approaches to learning new languages, Google is experimenting with instant real-world context powered by AI. It's an interesting approach as there are other AI language learning apps, too. Because it uses Gemini, Google's conversational AI, the tool adapts dynamically to how you interact. It doesn't just correct grammar or translate phrases; the voice narration also tries to nail the tone and nuance. You can learn to include slang and idioms in basic conversations, which many traditional apps tend to avoid initially. This colloquial learning makes it more useful if you want to understand how the same word can change meaning in everyday settings. As of now, Little Language Lessons is still a Labs experiment, and there's no word on when -- or if -- it will be rolled out more broadly. However, it reflects a growing trend with AI: using LLMs to turn passive tools into active learning companions. As an interesting experiment, Little Language Lessons is casual and fun. It feels like asking a tutor a quick question, rather than completing a formal lesson.

I'm an Amateur Linguist and I Tried Google's New AI Language Lessons. 1 Feature Could Be a Game-Changer

Google's experiment attempts to solve this problem using AI to help personalize language learning. "Learning a new spoken language...often happens in a vacuum -- through textbooks or exercises that feel strangely disconnected from the situations where language actually matters," explains Google creative technologist Aaron Wade, in a post about the experiment. He and his team used Google's Gemini AI to personalize language teaching in three different modules, Tiny Lessons, Slang Hang, and Word Cam, which allows you to point your camera at something and learn the word for it in another language. These tools aren't intended to let you learn a new language from scratch, but if you're working on learning a language, they can help you learn more of what you need to know, and in a fun way. As an amateur linguist, I was eager to try all three. I'm fluent in French, semi-fluent in Spanish, and more or less can be understood in Italian. Plus, I speak a smattering of Russian and Tagalog. I tried these new tools in French, Russian, and Chinese, a language I don't speak at all. The first two strike me as intriguing, with a lot of future potential. Word Cam, though, could be a game-changer right now for anyone struggling to learn a foreign language. 1. Tiny Lessons are for specific situations. In the pre-digital era, travelers went abroad toting phrasebooks full of helpful phrases to be used in particular situations, for example if they needed to see a doctor or buy a train ticket. (One of Monty Python's enduring sketches, "Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook" explores what can happen when someone willfully mistranslates these phrases.)