Microsoft has announced a new feature for its Teams communication platform that will allow users to clone their voices and have them speak in different languages during meetings. The feature, called Interpreter in Teams, will be available to Microsoft 365 subscribers in early 2025.
Interpreter in Teams will offer real-time speech-to-speech translation in nine languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. Users can choose to have their voice cloned and translated, providing a more personalized and engaging experience for multilingual meetings.
Microsoft emphasizes that the tool does not store any biometric data and can be disabled through Teams settings. Users must also provide consent before their voice can be cloned.
While this technology offers potential benefits for breaking down language barriers and improving communication, it also raises concerns about potential misuse. Deepfakes and voice cloning technology have been used in scams and disinformation campaigns, highlighting the need for safeguards to prevent abuse.
Microsoft has stated that Interpreter in Teams is designed to faithfully replicate the speaker’s message without adding any extraneous information or sentiment. However, it remains to be seen what specific safeguards Microsoft will implement to prevent malicious use of this technology.
