Google DeepMind has launched SL2T, a sign-language-to-text model now powering sign-to-text dictation in Gboard and Live Transcribe on Pixel 11, initially supporting American Sign Language to English translations. Trained on over 100,000 hours of video across more than 50 sign languages, SL2T converts pose landmarks rather than raw video into text, improving translation quality, privacy, latency, and robustness compared with earlier sign language technologies. Developed in close collaboration with Deaf communities and guided by an AI Sign Language Advisory Committee, SL2T’s rollout will expand to more devices and languages, aiming to make sign language input a standard digital accessibility feature.
This update represents a notable development in the Ai sector. Organizations and founders tracking this space should evaluate potential strategic and technical implications on their operations.