Audio translation for large meetings
Microsoft has added a new feature to its development roadmap called AI Interpreter for Teams Events. This tool is designed for Town Halls and Webinars, which are the formats used for one-to-many broadcasts rather than standard small group meetings.
The system uses artificial intelligence to translate the speaker's voice into other languages in real time. Unlike existing captioning tools that show text at the bottom of the screen, this feature provides a live audio feed. Attendees can select their preferred language and hear the presentation spoken aloud.
Implementation and timelines
Meeting organisers will be responsible for selecting which languages are supported for a specific event. Microsoft indicates that the goal is to make multilingual events feel more natural, as listeners can focus on the visual presentation while hearing the translation simultaneously.
It is important to note that this is currently scheduled for general availability in November 2026. As this date is two years away, the specific list of supported languages and the exact quality of the AI-generated speech are not yet confirmed.
Considerations for UK businesses
For most small and medium businesses in the UK, this feature will be most useful for those conducting export activities, managing remote teams abroad, or hosting public-facing webinars. It removes the logistical requirement and the cost of hiring professional human interpreters for every session.
Microsoft has not yet stated whether this will be included in standard Business Basic or Standard subscriptions, or if it will require a Teams Premium add-on license. We will provide updates on licensing requirements as the release date approaches. For now, no action is required from administrators.