AiThao
What it looks like
One person starts a call in AiThao and the other answers on their iPhone. Once both have agreed to translation, each hears the other in their own language — spoken aloud, or shown as subtitles, depending on the language.
This is a call inside the app, not a way to translate any ordinary phone call. It needs an internet connection, and how quickly and how accurately it translates depends on the network, the way people speak, and the languages involved.
When it helps
- Agreeing on a time to meet with someone who speaks another language.
- Sorting out an everyday question with a friend or relative abroad.
- Checking something quickly by voice when typing is awkward.
Before an important conversation
Make sure you both use AiThao and have chosen your languages. Take turns and keep sentences short, especially somewhere noisy. Repeat names, addresses and amounts, or confirm them in writing: automatic translation can make mistakes.
The app understands speech in 60 languages on a call. In 29 of them the translation is spoken aloud; in the other 31 it appears as subtitles. The web demo covers only some of these languages and is not a substitute for checking your mode in the app.
Questions
Do both people need AiThao?
Yes. A translated call happens inside AiThao, so both people use the app. The web demo lets you try the translation on its own.
Is translation always on?
No. Speech translation on a call starts only when both people agree to it. How the audio is handled is set out in the privacy policy.
Is a translated call end-to-end encrypted?
No. Live speech has to reach the translation service, so a translated call is not end-to-end encrypted. A call without translation between two phones that support it is.