A new global study by Language I/O, a leader in AI translation solutions, finds that real-time language translation has become the top AI priority for enterprises in 2025. With global teams, diverse customer bases, and increasing cross-border communication, 54% of surveyed business leaders now identify translation technology as their most urgent AI investment. As businesses face growing challenges in accuracy, security, and multilingual customer engagement, real-time AI-powered translation is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s foundational infrastructure.
Survey Overview and Methodology
In collaboration with research firm Brandata, Language I/O surveyed 1,089 enterprise leaders across North America and EMEA. Participants represented large enterprises (5,000+ employees) from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, and South Africa. The research explored how AI is currently being deployed in language-centric tasks and where it’s headed.
Findings from the 2025 Study
- Language barriers are disrupting operations
- 45% report significant customer support issues due to language gaps
- 32% face challenges in employee training, affecting retention and productivity
- AI is already at work in many enterprises
- 34% currently use AI tools for language-related tasks
- 40% expect major gains in text-to-speech translation
- 36% anticipate broader adoption of multilingual chatbots
- Top concerns around AI translation
- 35% cite accuracy and cultural relevance as key issues
- Cost and data security also remain top-of-mind
These findings point to a clear shift in how large companies are thinking about AI—not just as a futuristic enhancement, but as a necessary solution to break down language barriers in real time.
AI as Infrastructure, Not Just Innovation
According to Heather Morgan Shoemaker, Founder and CEO of Language I/O, the demand for real-time translation is now mission-critical:
“This research confirms what we’ve been seeing across industries: language barriers are no longer acceptable in today’s global economy. As AI capabilities expand, business leaders recognize that real-time, accurate translation is essential infrastructure. Our technology enables companies to bridge language, opening up time to focus on what matters most: meaningful connections with customers and partners worldwide.”
Language I/O’s platform helps companies integrate high-accuracy AI translation directly into customer service platforms, internal systems, and communication tools—providing secure, culturally relevant translations in real time.
The Rise of Collaborative AI in Translation
Despite the strong move toward automation, the report finds that businesses don’t see AI as a replacement for human expertise. In fact, nearly 60% of enterprise leaders foresee a collaborative future where AI works alongside human translators, enhancing quality while maintaining the nuanced understanding that only human professionals provide.
This approach—combining the scale of AI with the contextual intelligence of people—will be the foundation of next-generation multilingual strategies. Rather than full automation, enterprises are favoring collaborative AI models that improve customer experience while ensuring cultural relevance and brand consistency.
Translation as a Strategic Priority in Global Business
As global commerce becomes more interconnected, language inclusivity has become a competitive advantage. The study from Language I/O underscores a pivotal trend: AI-powered translation is no longer an optional enhancement—it’s a strategic necessity.
Businesses that invest in secure, accurate, and culturally aware translation technologies will be better equipped to serve international markets, improve internal collaboration, and reduce operational friction. In the years ahead, real-time translation will move from IT roadmaps to mission-critical status, shaping how enterprises connect, serve, and grow in an increasingly multilingual world.
