Nurturing safe spaces through multilingual conversations
Client:
UNESCO
7 Pl. de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris
Event:
Internet for Trust (i4T) Community Consultation, June 26, 2023
Overview:
UNESCO hosted the “Internet for Trust” consultation in Paris to refine draft global guidelines for regulating digital platforms. The initiative aimed to safeguard freedom of expression and access to information while mitigating harmful online content. The challenge lay in fostering authentic, inclusive dialogue among participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, ensuring every voice contributed to shaping this crucial policy.
To address these challenges, UNESCO partnered with Langfinity, an AI-powered multilingual video conferencing platform. Langfinity provided real-time translation across six languages, enabling seamless communication and creating an environment where participants could freely express nuanced perspectives without language barriers.
Languages Supported:
English, Chinese (Mandarin), Portuguese, Spanish, French, Hindi
Challenges
UNESCO faced several significant barriers in facilitating an inclusive and impactful consultation:
Enabling truly diverse perspectives:
Monolingual discussions risked suppressing unique viewpoints and fostering “group think.” Participants needed the ability to communicate comfortably in their native languages to ensure their thoughts were fully represented.Addressing the complexity of multilingual communication:
Non-native English speakers often found it difficult to articulate intricate ideas, leading to oversimplifications or miscommunication. Meanwhile, monolingual participants experienced discomfort when exposed to foreign languages, even with subtitles, creating psychological barriers to full engagement.Mistrust of AI translation technology:
Some participants were skeptical about relying on AI for real-time translation, doubting whether the tool could accurately capture their nuanced thoughts and intentions.Managing costs and logistics:
The traditional reliance on human interpreters was costly and logistically complex, especially for a large, multilingual gathering like the i4T consultation. UNESCO needed an efficient, scalable alternative.
Solutions with Langfinity
Langfinity offered a comprehensive solution to overcome these challenges, transforming the way multilingual consultations were conducted:
Fostering Multilingual Inclusion:
Langfinity’s real-time translation capabilities allowed participants to communicate in their native languages, eliminating linguistic barriers and ensuring all voices were heard. This inclusivity enriched the discussions with diverse perspectives, leading to more innovative solutions.Supporting Authentic Expression:
The platform enabled participants to convey complex ideas without the cognitive burden of translating into a second language. By preserving nuance and depth, Langfinity ensured that no contribution was diluted or misrepresented.Easing Language-Based Discomfort:
Monolingual participants could engage fully with real-time translations, reducing reliance on subtitles and creating an environment where everyone felt equally included.Building Confidence in AI Translation:
Langfinity demonstrated remarkable accuracy and cultural sensitivity, quickly gaining participants’ trust. By delivering consistent, high-quality translations, it proved that AI could bridge communication gaps effectively and respectfully.Streamlining Costs and Logistics:
By replacing the need for human interpreters, Langfinity significantly reduced costs—saving approximately 97% of traditional expenses—and simplified event management, freeing resources for other priorities.
Results
The implementation of Langfinity during the i4T Community Consultation led to transformative outcomes:
Inclusive and Dynamic Discussions:
Participants from six different language groups contributed freely and authentically, resulting in a broader range of ideas and deeper insights. Langfinity enabled a level of dialogue that would have been impossible in a monolingual format.Strengthened Trust and Collaboration:
Allowing participants to speak in their native languages fostered a sense of respect and value, strengthening interpersonal connections and encouraging collaboration across cultural boundaries.Cost and Time Efficiency:
UNESCO achieved significant financial savings by eliminating the need for interpreters. Additionally, Langfinity’s ability to provide meeting notes and recordings in multiple languages saved time and enhanced post-event analysis.Improved Documentation and Transparency:
Langfinity ensured that every contribution was captured accurately and accessibly, supporting follow-up efforts and reinforcing the transparency of the consultation process.
Why Langfinity?
Langfinity stood out as a solution that aligned perfectly with UNESCO’s mission and principles:
Promoting Access to Information: Langfinity’s support for over 100 languages enhanced access for diverse participants, ensuring that everyone could engage meaningfully.
Encouraging Cross-Cultural Collaboration: By enabling seamless communication, Langfinity fostered mutual understanding and cooperation among participants from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Championing Inclusivity: The platform allowed every participant to express themselves in their preferred language, breaking down barriers and making the dialogue truly representative.
Enhancing Transparency: Langfinity provided detailed multilingual meeting notes and recordings, ensuring clarity and accountability.
Advancing Ethical AI Use: With a focus on privacy and cultural nuance, Langfinity demonstrated how AI could be both effective and respectful.
Larger impact
The success of Langfinity at UNESCO’s i4T consultation highlights the immense potential of AI-powered multilingual tools in global conversations. These technologies go beyond solving language barriers—they empower diverse perspectives, foster inclusivity, and drive meaningful change.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, tools like Langfinity pave the way for a future where communication knows no boundaries. By making every voice heard, Langfinity is not just transforming how we communicate—it’s shaping how we collaborate, innovate, and connect as a global community.
