AI Translate by Amazon for KDP

[Quoth]

https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-i...183056809.html

This is worse value than the charging for computer generated audio books from text (which anyone can do nearly as well / only slightly more badly at home).

Computer translation is far poorer than TTS. This isn't a boon to Self-publishing on KDP, or to people buying books. It's greed.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Quoth

https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-i...183056809.html

This is worse value than the charging for computer generated audio books from text (which anyone can do nearly as well / only slightly more badly at home).

Computer translation is far poorer than TTS. This isn't a boon to Self-publishing on KDP, or to people buying books. It's greed.

Just wait for the s*** storm when it hallucinates and puts something really offensive in, and of course the author won't be able to check as they probably won't be able to read the translated language.

[John F]

I'll leave it up to the authors and readers to determine its value.

An interesting article.

Major literary works often take years to get a decent translation out the door. Just ask Americans who often have to wait eons to gobble up the latest book by someone like Haruki Murakami.

Wiki says Murakami recent works have been translated within a year? Must be using AI to get those translations.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon introduces Kindle Translate

an AI-powered translation service for authors to reach global readers

The service translates between English and Spanish, and from German to English, expanding opportunities for Kindle Direct Publishing authors.

November 06, 2025

Amazon is introducing Kindle Translate in beta, an AI-powered translation service that makes it easier for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) authors to share their eBooks with readers worldwide in multiple languages. With less than 5% of titles on Amazon.com available in more than one language, Kindle Translate creates opportunities for authors to reach new audiences and earn more.

article continues

[rantanplan]

I thought that AI creations couldn't be copyrighted?

[DNSB]

The original text would still be copyright. And arguing about whether a translation is a creation has been going on for decades. Personally, after reading multiple human translations, I tend to be on the creation side.

[Quoth]

A new human translation of a PD text is certainly copyright.

Also no translation of copyright work can be published without original owner's permission and licence, no matter how the translation is done. Translation of copyright material for personal consumption, with no distribution is OK.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Quoth

A new human translation of a PD text is certainly copyright.

The argument is not if the translation is copyright but rather whether it is a creation since that is generally required to have originality. It's been my experience that the better translations have quite a bit of originality.