OpenAI quietly launches ChatGPT Translate to take on Google Translate

ChatGPT's new translator lets users choose tone, not just language

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What just happened? Without fanfare or publicity, OpenAI has quietly launched a dedicated translation service. The site, which resembles Google Translate in both layout and simplicity, positions ChatGPT as a direct competitor to one of Google's most widely used products.

At first glance, ChatGPT Translate looks familiar: a large input box for typing or pasting text, two dropdown menus for selecting the source and target languages, and a copy button to retrieve the translated result. But its most distinctive feature sits beneath the surface – literally. The interface offers users four stylistic options for their output, allowing translations to adjust in tone for business, academic, or child-friendly audiences.

Unlike standard translation engines, this system integrates ChatGPT's flexible language modeling. Simply prompting it with "translate this to [language]" produces a plain translation, while selecting a tone modifies phrasing and structure to suit different contexts. That approach blurs the line between machine translation and natural language generation.

Early testing of the standalone site shows that translations for short passages usually arrive in under five seconds, noticeably quicker than running the same request through the general ChatGPT interface. That speed difference has prompted speculation that OpenAI is using a dedicated or heavily optimized translation stack for this tool, though the company has not disclosed which model is deployed under the hood. OpenAI released GPT-5.2 in December 2025.

The translator claims support for more than 50 languages, but only 28 currently appear in the selection list. These include major global tongues and some regional variants such as Brazilian and European Portuguese, suggesting the system could expand as testing continues.

However, several advertised features remain inactive. OpenAI's description mentions image-to-text translation and voice input, yet neither is fully functional on desktop browsers. The Verge reported that the microphone option becomes available when using a mobile browser, suggesting feature parity is incomplete between platforms.

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ChatGPT Translate's early appearance hints that OpenAI may be preparing for a more official rollout in the coming weeks. The understated launch aligns with the company's pattern of quietly releasing new tools before expanding access. For now, the service operates as a lean, web-based translator that gives users a glimpse of how generative AI could reshape one of the internet's oldest and most essential tools.