Zoom Buys AI-Based Startup, Develops Real-Time Interpreting Service

Platform meeting online Zoom (CNet)

JAKARTA - Zoom announced its plan to buy Karlsruhe Information Technology Solutions, a German startup that focuses on developing real-time language translation using machine-learning technology.

Also known as Kites, the company consists of 12 researchers who are also members of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Where the two founders, namely Dr. Alex Waibel and Dr. Sebastian Stuker is a faculty member of the university.

Zoom does not share the value of the purchase deal. However, the company shared a statement that the startup it bought would play a role in the development of the translation feature. Not only that, Zoom also conveyed its plans to build a research and development center in Germany.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve user satisfaction and meeting productivity. And [interpreting machines] will be an important solution in enhancing our platform for Zoom users around the world,” said President of Product and Engineering Zoom, Velchami Sankarlingam, quoted by Globe News Wire, Wednesday, June 30.

Facilitate Cross-Language Communication Through Real Time Translation Trans

On the same occasion, the plan to purchase Kites by Zoom was also enthusiastically welcomed by Kites members. Dr. Waibel and Dr. Stuker as the founder of the company even stated that the presence of Zoom would help his party in realizing the company's initial mission.

“We know that Zoom is the best partner for Kites in realizing the mission. And we're excited to see what will happen under Zoom's innovative engine." Stuker.

Kites is a start-up company consisting of 12 researchers. Founded in 2015, Kites has academic roots with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, of which two of its founders are also faculty members of the university.

This German start-up has a mission to remove the language barrier and make cross-language interaction possible. This means that Zoom users will no longer need to worry about the limitations of mastering foreign languages when meeting using this platform.

Once launched, the Kites engine will display the subtitles created in real-time.