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Arab News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
How AI-powered voice tech is bringing Arabic-language content to global audiences
JEDDAH: Dubai-based artificial intelligence company is revolutionizing language localization by building advanced voice and translation models that preserve emotion, nuance and cultural context — especially in complex languages like Arabic. Through a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia's MBC Group, is scaling this technology across entertainment, education, and spiritual content — unlocking a new era of accessibility for Arabic media. 'At we have built translation and voice models that adapt to the nature of the desired language rather than merely mimicking the input,' Akshat Prakash, the company's chief technical officer and co-founder told Arab News. 'Whether it's the emotion in the voice or the way certain things are said in Arabic, we are dedicated to preserving nuances, emotions and prosody to deliver what we call a 'performance-to-performance' impact. 'We take content and deliver a fully packaged performance through our localization infrastructure built on top of our proprietary AI models — BOLI and MARS.' successfully generated multilingual commentary for an MLS NEXT Pro match using AI-driven real-time voice translation and dubbing technology. Its core capability lies in an AI dubbing platform that instantaneously translates live audio (such as play-by-play commentary) into multiple languages. The language generator preserves the original speaker's voice, tone and emotion — making it feel as if the original commentator is speaking the listener's native language. 'Solving live sports streaming first led us to create technology that could handle the hardest type of content,' said Prakash. 'Today, we livestream games in multiple languages alongside some of the biggest brands in the world — like Major League Soccer, Eurovision and the Australian Open. 'We can perform equally well on other types of content. For instance, we've translated complex performances such as the Nayla Al Khaja-directed psychological thriller, 'Three,' which was showcased at the Red Sea Film Festival.' The film was the first Arabic movie to be AI-dubbed into Mandarin Chinese and other complex languages, preserving nuances, context, and emotion while staying true to the director's original vision. Today, excels at delivering culturally and contextually sensitive adaptations of original performances — while maintaining realism — in over 150 languages. 'No technology on the market offers such diversity, realism, and public proof points of what AI can enable in hyper-realistic translation. We're proud to extend this work to every Arabic dialect — something no other technology has been able to do,' Prakash said. As global demand for non-English content continues to rise, IMAX is turning to AI to localize its original films and documentaries more efficiently. In partnership with it has delivered content in multiple languages, demonstrating the power of technology to translate complex, dramatic material. ' has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible — creating AI that delivers real value in the form of revenue and cost efficiencies to global content owners and distributors,' said Prakash. 'We've learned that deploying AI requires a hand-in-hand partnership. It takes not only great technology but also great partners who are willing to explore the uncharted. MBC is exactly that kind of partner for us in MENA, establishing what is probably the biggest MediaXAI deal since Runway x Lionsgate.' Prakash explained that partnering with MBC Group was a natural decision due to its vast scale, diverse content library, and strong regional presence. More significantly, the collaboration was rooted in a shared set of values. This partnership goes beyond the Runway x Lionsgate deal and sets a new benchmark for how media and AI can collaborate. AI voice tech preserves tone, emotion and nuance, transforming how Arabic content is localized across 150+ languages. powers live sports translation for global events like MLS, Eurovision and the Australian Open — in real time. AI-dubbed Arabic thriller 'Three' debuted in Mandarin, highlighting CAMB. AI's ability to localize content without losing cultural depth. MBC Group and have also taken the lead in regional innovation. With projects like Stargate and HUMAIN, the Middle East and North Africa region is quickly becoming a global hub for powerful, homegrown AI. Prakash emphasized that has remained extremely conscious of privacy, data protection and respect for individual attributes. 'While regulatory frameworks are still developing, we have been self-regulating to respect individual rights and content ownership. We drive our business ethically,' he said. 'Our foundation is simple: Not everyone can be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.' With one of the most comprehensive Arabic content libraries in the world, MBC Group is uniquely positioned to support more advanced and accurate AI outcomes in this space. The emerging technology team at MBC, led by Fadel Zahreddine, is at the forefront of innovation, aligning perfectly with mission. 'Our content spans the full spectrum of Arab identity, from Gulf dialects to Levantine, North African, and everything in between, capturing not just language, but also tone, emotion and social nuance,' Zahreddine told Arab News. 'Through this collaboration with we see an opportunity to contribute data that is not only linguistically rich but also responsibly curated. Our multimodal archive, covering video, audio and text, offers a strong foundation for advanced AI applications that are more contextually aware and locally grounded.' As one of the region's largest content producers, MBC Group constantly explores new ways to strengthen connections between programming and global audiences. 'This includes expanding how our content is distributed across platforms like Shahid, satellite TV and digital services,' said Zahreddine. 'Enhancing localization is one layer of the broader effort to remove friction between content and audiences.' This collaboration between MBC Group and reflects a broader effort to explore how Arabic content can connect more meaningfully with non-native-speaking audiences. By moving beyond literal translation and toward context-sensitive localization, the partnership supports a more accurate and respectful representation of original creative work For Arabic creators and producers, this opens up the possibility of reaching wider audiences while maintaining the cultural authenticity that defines their storytelling. It is not about changing the content but about removing barriers that might limit how it is experienced in other cultural contexts. MBC Group approaches innovation through the same lens that has shaped its editorial philosophy for decades — grounded in cultural integrity, social responsibility, and a strong commitment to its audiences. 'We believe that technology and ethics are not separate conversations but (are) deeply connected — especially when building tools that shape how content is consumed and understood,' said Zahreddine. 'We have around 65 nationalities working at MBC. Our multicultural environment is reflected in the cultural sensitivity of our content production. 'Our extensive media library is developed (with) high ethical standards, avoiding obscene content, excessive violence or any form of hate speech. This discipline not only protects the integrity of our content but also makes it a reliable data foundation for engaging with AI and emerging technologies.' By sharing responsibly curated material, MBC Group contributes to the development of AI models that better reflect the ethical values embedded in its programming and are aligned with audience expectations. Zahreddine added: 'While AI continues to evolve rapidly, we believe it's essential that any advancement remains anchored in principles that respect culture, identity and shared community standards.'
Khaleej Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE among few places in world where businesses want to relocate, say AI startup founders
Artificial intelligence (AI) is still considered 'a fancy word' in some parts of the world, but the UAE means business and is leading in building solutions for the region and the world, said industry players. Speaking during the Dubai AI Week on Monday, the startup founder said Dubai and UAE are among the few places in the world where companies want to relocate amidst global geopolitical issues. The ongoing tariff war between the US, China, and other countries has caused uncertainty globally in terms of policies and taxes. The UAE enjoys the status of a tax haven as there is no income tax in the country. 'Dubai has always been early when it comes to AI. The UAE set up the Ministry of AI before anywhere else on the planet. It shows the maturity and insight into what this region is thinking about. "As we have grown, what good I've seen is that the UAE ecosystem has started moving away from fancy to real business use cases, which will matter a lot. There are zones and hot spots in the world where AI is still a fancy word. It's refreshing to see that in the UAE, it's a means of business, and this is the ecosystem that we want to integrate,' Akshat Prakash, CTO and co-founder of said during a panel discussion at the Dubai AI Week on Monday. Prakash added that the UAE is the best amalgamation of the Eastern and Western worlds, culturally and geographically, because it is a highly multicultural society .'Geographically, given the political climate of the world, there remain few places that you want to relocate to and build a company. To state very unapologetically, if you look at Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions, Dubai stands out in terms of attracting talent. When we relocated to Dubai, nobody said 'no' to relocating here in our team. Cultural and geographical aspects are strong that put Dubai at the forefront and next hub for AI,' co-founder said during the panel discussion. Nuha Hashem, co-founder of CozmoX AI, said during the dotcom era, there was a gap in terms of adopting technology in this part of the world. 'What you see in terms of technology companies here, they started building AI even before it became a hot topic. They are not just building solutions for region but for global audiences. We are seeing a shift where the gap is becoming smaller. Dubai is doing the right thing by attracting talent to build AI solutions here. They have resources and opportunities to build the future right from the region,' she said during the panel discussion on the topic of 'Fueling the Future: Investing in AI Startups within Dubai's Ecosystem.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legible & CAMB.AI Unlock New Revenue Streams with Global Multilingual Audiobook Access
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legible Inc. (CSE: READ) (OTCQB: LEBGF) (FSE: D0T). On Wednesday, February 12, 2024 ("Legible' / 'Company'), and Ltd. (' signed an agreement to enhance the digital reading experience, leveraging artificial intelligence ('AI') on demand to instantly convert millions of eBooks into high-quality audiobooks in over 160 languages. This accessibility tool is poised to unlock global markets, delivering previously unavailable content to readers around the world. With millions of eBooks available across all genres, this collaboration represents an extraordinary market opportunity—hundreds of millions of hours of potential audiobook content available to readers anytime, anywhere as seamless reading and listening experiences, —enabling publishers and authors to reach international audiences with new speed, efficiency, and savings. AI-driven voice localization and instant translation technologies will be integrated into Legible's platform, enhancing the accessibility and commercial viability of every eBook. 'This is an exciting development in accessibility for books,' said Kaleeg Hainsworth, CEO of Legible. 'By partnering with we're enabling publishers and authors to create high-quality, multilingual audiobooks faster and more affordably than ever before. With this integration, books on our platform can reach new markets in multiple languages faster than ever before and can do so across any device, expanding access and revenue potential globally.' This AI-driven solution will be commercialized as a premium add-on to Legible's subscription service, and also accessible via Legible's apps, browser-based platform, and in-car infotainment systems, with revenues and savings being directly passed on to publishers and authors. This ensures a truly international accessibility offering, enhancing the reading experience for users worldwide. User Journey & Offering: Instant toggling between eBook text and audiobook mode. AI-powered voice synthesis delivering narration in over 160 languages. Publishers retain full control, ensuring opt-in participation without disruption. Traditional audiobook production costs can be substantially reduced while maintaining professional quality including tone and intonation. Voice actors can license their voices for AI-generated narrations, ensuring fair compensation and ethical AI integration. 'Legible's vision aligns perfectly with our mission to eliminate language barriers and promote global literacy,' said Akshat Prakash, CTO & Co-Founder of 'Our proprietary AI models enable publishers and content creators to instantly translate their works into multiple languages, reaching wider audiences on an unprecedented scale via Legible's platform.' By drastically lowering audiobook production costs for multiple language audiences, while maintaining voice quality, this partnership removes long-standing barriers in the publishing industry. Authors and publishers can now reach international markets in record time, tapping into new revenue potential. Legible and are committed to ethical AI use, ensuring publishers and voice actors retain full control in this ecosystem. This guarantees creative integrity, fair compensation practices, and a sustainable model for the future of publishing. About in 2022, leads content localization with a five-year foundation in advanced AI research in speech and translation. Our team comprises AI experts from top level companies and institutions. We've pioneered the zero-shot AI Dubbing platform, delivering hyper-realistic content translation in 160+ languages. empowers content creators and owners across media, sports, and education, to transcend language barriers and make content universally relatable on a global scale. About LegibleLegible is a mobile-centric global company specializing in eBooks and audiobook entertainment. Its extensive partnerships encompass four of the Big 5 Publishers, the world's largest eBook distributor, and a wide range of outstanding and innovative publishers of all sizes, enabling Legible to seamlessly deliver millions of multilingual eBooks and audiobooks, transforming any smart device into a source of cutting-edge infotainment. Legible is advancing mobile-centric eBook and audiobook experiences with interactive AI-driven content in Living Books, including comics and manga. Legible's recent release, FrankensteinAI, third in the Company's AI Classics series, reimagines Mary Shelley's masterpiece with animated AI art developed by digital artist Remo Camerota and immersive character-driven AI chat, offering readers a uniquely engaging journey through the classic horror tale. Legible is also the exclusive publisher of the My Model Kitchen series of video-enriched Living Cookbooks by former supermodel, talk show host, bestselling author, and celebrity chef, Cristina Ferrare, with an embedded AI Sous Chef for each recipe, which have been featured three times on the Drew Barrymore Show and in many other major US media outlets. As a first mover in the rapidly expanding automotive infotainment market, Legible has partnered with media providers Appning by FORVIA, Harman Ignite, LiveOne, ACCESS Twine4Car, and Visteon. Legible has the only Android Automotive app with the capacity to deliver both audiobooks and eBooks to drivers and passengers into tens of millions of vehicles around the globe, positioning Legible at the forefront of the new world of in-car infotainment experiences. The 2024 EdTech Breakthrough Award winner for eLearning Innovation of the Year, Legible is reshaping the digital publishing landscape, committed to gaining a significant market share by providing innovative 21st-century publishing solutions and enriching global reading experiences. Becoming a member of Legible Unbound for only US$9.99 provides readers access to unbeatable value on unlimited reading and listening, plus exclusive member-only access to Legible's unique Living Books. Please visit and discover the place where eBooks come to life. Contacts Legible Deborah Harford, EVP, Global Strategic PartnershipsTel.: +1-604-283-2028Email: invest@ Krupp Kommunications, Kathy Giaconia, VP Media RelationsTel.: +1-213-324-5665Email: kgiaconia@ Grigorij Richters, PREmail: grig@ Katie CaseEmail: katie@ Website: Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking InformationThis Press Release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information ('forward-looking statements'), including statements regarding Legible's business. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Legible's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, currency fluctuations, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Although Legible believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward- looking information, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, Legible does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary in to access your portfolio
