VLC Media Player developer VideoLAN recently unveiled an exciting new feature that will revolutionize how users experience subtitles. Through the power of AI, users will soon be able to receive real-time translated subtitles, opening up a world of possibilities for non-Japanese speakers.
Anime enthusiasts, in particular, will benefit greatly from this innovation, as it will enable them to enjoy titles that may not have been officially localized by western publishers. Additionally, users who prefer to avoid the sometimes controversial changes made by localizers will now have the option to rely on machine translation for a more authentic viewing experience.
Exciting news from VideoLAN! VLC will soon support automatic subtitles generation and translation using local AI models, all without the need for an internet connection. This groundbreaking feature will support multiple languages, making it easier than ever for users to enjoy content from around the world. #CES2025
— VideoLAN (@videolan) January 8, 2025
By running the AI locally, users can rest assured that their privacy is maintained and that no internet connection is required for the feature to work. This development comes at a time when many anime fans are expressing concerns over the accuracy and integrity of western localizations, with some even viewing them as potential censorship.
As a result, there is a growing trend among fans to turn to AI translation for a more faithful representation of the original content. Japanese publishers have taken notice of this shift, with some already experimenting with AI translations for popular manga series like “The Ancient Magus Bride.”
While AI subtitles may not always capture the nuances and context of the original dialogue, many fans see this as a small price to pay for supporting Japanese creators directly and maintaining the integrity of the source material.
