An Update on AI-Powered Translations in Canvas

[TamasBalogh]

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we want to share an update on the highly anticipated AI-powered Discussions and Inbox Translations. As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and scalable features, we will continue to keep this feature in beta testing until critical areas of improvements identified through user feedback have been successfully resolved.

Key Findings from Beta Testing

Scalability: While translations perform well in courses with a smaller number of enrollments, it hasn't scaled as we’d expect with increased usage. We recognize how important large-course support is for many of our customers, so ensuring this feature is scalable is of top priority.

Accuracy: Beta testing brought to light inconsistencies in translation responses, so we’re working to refine the model to ensure the translations are as accurate and relevant as possible. 

Performance: Translation speed is crucial for a great user experience, so we’re continuing to optimize the tool to meet our high-performance standards.

Next Steps

The observations described above are primarily linked to the language model that powers Translations in Canvas. To address these concerns, and deliver a robust and reliable translation tool at no additional cost, we plan to migrate to an improved model that better addresses our scalability, accuracy, and performance concerns. Once the adoption of the new language model is released, we will update AI Nutrition facts accordingly.

While this change will push our production release into 2025, it will allow us to offer our customers a more reliable translation tool that better aligns with Instructure's standards of quality and user satisfaction.

What to Expect in 2025

We are working hard to migrate to the new language model and will provide an updated Production Release date as soon as we can. We will continue to share updates via the Product Blog and encourage you to submit questions or feedback in the comments section below. Thank you for your understanding as we work to resolve this issue in the new year.

[SusanNiemeyer]

I teach ESL (English as a Second Language). We have enough problems with students using Google Translate. Are you now saying that they will be able to directly write their discussion replies in their native languages, and that the Canvas AI tool will translate them?

This is why I'm back to 100% in-person learning with paper and pencil. 

[BethCrook]

Hi @TamasBalogh! This is a big concern for us as well.  I hope we will be able to turn this feature off at the account and sub-account or course levels!  Please advise!

[TamasBalogh]

Hi @BethCrook, @SusanNiemeyer you can set the AI translation on/off on an account and on course level too.  

[jsowalsk]

@TamasBalogh Has a new date been set for this?

[MARISSASCHRADER]

I am happy to hear it will be able to be turned off at course level as well. Many of our teachers will want to do this. 

@TamasBalogh I'm also curious to know what the new date will be for production release. 

[TamasBalogh]

Hi @jsowalsk, @MARISSASCHRADER not at this moment. We are going to communicate the new date once it is set. 

[Charles_Barbour]

It would be nice if Teachers could also set this option as a default preference.

"By default, I want translation disabled for all my courses unless I explicitly go in and enable it."

That's much easier of teachers than requiring them to go in and disable it for every course or forcing administrators to disable it for everyone.

Really, all settings should be like this at the org, department, course and teacher level.

• On by default, but can be disabled
• Locked on with no way to disable
• Off by default. but can be enabled
• Locked off

[GS_538]

I would like to try and turn on the AI-powered translation in Canvas on the account level? Is it possible, even in Beta environment? 

Where can I find the option as an account admin? 

@TamasBalogh 

[TamasBalogh]

@GS_538, you can turn on both Discussion Translation and Inbox Translation in Beta, but not yet in production. 

In account settings, under Feature Options you can find both: Inbox AI Translation is an account level flag, and the Course AI Translation is a course level settings. 

If you are interested in testing the translations, I'd like to ask if you'd be open for testing the new language model we are introducing to the translation features.

[jsowalsk]

@TamasBalogh Any updates on when this will be ready for production?

[TamasBalogh]

@jsowalsk Currently we are in a testing phase, so you can expect an update in the next 1-2 months. 

[jsowalsk]

@TamasBalogh Thank you. To confirm, this is for inbox and Discussion right?

[TamasBalogh]

@jsowalsk Yes, both Inbox and Discussions. We made a lot of improvements both on the UI/UX and the quality of the translations

[jsowalsk]

@TamasBalogh Great.

[GS_538]

@TamasBalogh - yes, we are open to testing the new language model. Will it bring us to using the translation feature sooner? We REALLY need this option with our courses that currently run in three languages.