IMAX, the Canadian production theatre company, has reportedly forged a partnership with Dubai-based Camb.AI to make its content accessible in localized languages across the globe. On Monday, the company announced its plans to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to translate its original content into 140 languages, allowing audiences to experience films in their native tongues. This technological advancement will be exclusively implemented in IMAX-branded theatres, according to reports. The move appears to align with the increasing demand for non-English content worldwide.
IMAX Reportedly Using AI to Translate Original Content
A report from TechCrunch indicates that IMAX’s collaboration with Camb.AI—an AI company specializing in speech models—will facilitate the release of its entire content library in localized versions worldwide.
Strategically, IMAX seems to be aiming at the growing interest in South Korean, Indonesian, and other Southeast Asian media in Western markets and beyond. While such international content is often available with subtitles on various streaming platforms, dubbed content remains scarce due to the high costs associated with production.
Despite the limited use of AI-powered dubbing so far, IMAX is looking to introduce real-time AI voice translations in theatres around the globe. This initiative will ensure that audiences in different countries can enjoy the company’s original content in their own languages. However, the report does not provide details on how IMAX plans to handle the complexities of multiple local languages in regions like India.
Camb.AI has reportedly implemented its AI dubbing and speech translation technologies in live sports broadcasts for events like the Australian Open, Eurovision Sport, and Major League Soccer. The company employs the Boli model for speech-to-text translation and Mars for speech emulation, both integrated into its DubStudio platform that supports 140 languages.
Akshat Prakash, Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Camb.AI, told TechCrunch that, unlike other firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, Camb.AI is not focused on broadening its AI offerings horizontally but is instead dedicated to deepening its vertical solutions. Prakash noted that certain large language models (LLMs) employed by the company have fewer than 100 million parameters.
