Will AI replace interpreters at meetings? A new device can interpret conversations for as many as 50 people at once.

Calendar 6/23/2026

International team meetings often require costly translation services, specialist equipment and additional infrastructure. Timekettle believes this process can be significantly simplified. The manufacturer has just unveiled the X1 Meeting Interpreter Hub, a compact device weighing just 199 grams that is intended to provide real-time translation of conversations without the need for interpreting booths or external interpreters. The device has been designed for companies, conferences and international teams working in multiple languages.

One device will support up to 50 participants

The new hub allows multilingual meetings with up to 50 people at the same time. According to the manufacturer, the system can translate conversations in real time between five languages during a single meeting. In total the device supports 52 languages and 106 different accents, which should improve performance in an international business environment. Meeting hosts use special headphones fitted with a noise-reduction system and several microphones to capture speech accurately. This should ensure the translation functions correctly even in noisy conference rooms. Other participants do not need to install any additional apps. They simply scan a QR code or click the shared link on a smartphone, tablet or computer. The system displays the translation both as text and as audio. The solution could prove particularly useful during conferences, business meetings and training sessions run for international teams. Timekettle says the whole process has been designed to minimise technical problems and speed up the start of a meeting. This allows users to focus on the conversation instead of configuring equipment. The manufacturer hopes artificial intelligence will replace some traditional translation services.

Data stays local, but the price isn't low

One of the device's most important features is local data storage. All meeting transcriptions are saved directly to the device's 32 GB storage, without the need to upload them to the cloud. For many companies this could be a significant consideration in terms of security and the protection of confidential information. For larger events it is possible to connect up to ten hubs at once. The devices communicate wirelessly over short distances, which makes it possible to scale up meeting support. Saved data can then be exported via a USB-C port. Although the hardware's capabilities are impressive, the biggest obstacle for some customers may be the price. The X1 Meeting Interpreter Hub is priced at US$849. That may be a difficult cost for smaller companies or small teams to accept. On the other hand, businesses that regularly hold international meetings may find the expense worthwhile compared with the cost of professional translation services. Timekettle claims the device can significantly simplify communication between people who speak different languages. If the technology delivers on the manufacturer's promises, it could become an interesting alternative to traditional conferencing solutions.

digitaltrends

The Timekettle X1 Meeting Interpreter Hub is a compact device that uses AI for real-time interpretation of conversations. The device supports up to 50 participants, five languages simultaneously, and stores transcripts locally. However, the main barrier for many users may be the price of US$849.

source: digitaltrends

Redakcja Choose TV Avatar
Redakcja Choose TV

ChooseTVteam-title