Otter.ai, the AI-powered note-taking service, announced on Tuesday that it is enhancing its multilingual features. The company introduced a transcription capability that can follow language switches within the same meeting and continue transcribing without manual setting changes.
As part of the update, Otter is adding 27 languages — its largest single language expansion to date. Once the rollout is complete, Otter will support 31 languages in total, aiming to make the platform more accessible for international teams.
How the multilingual transcription works
The new feature automatically detects when speakers switch languages and continues to transcribe the conversation seamlessly. For example, a call might shift from English to Korean to Portuguese, and Otter will track the dialogue throughout without requiring users to change settings.
The company says the update addresses a common challenge for global teams, where language differences complicate meetings and collaboration. An Otter spokesperson described the goal as breaking down language barriers so any company can build a system of record for voice-based decisions.
Languages available now and coming soon
Thirteen of the newly added languages are available immediately: Mandarin Chinese, Korean, German, Italian, Cantonese, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Dutch, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Polish.
The remaining fourteen languages are coming soon: Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Arabic, Hindi, Thai, Hebrew, Norwegian, Greek, Macedonian, Persian, Czech, Hungarian, and Romanian.
Model training and accuracy checks
The newly supported languages run on Otter’s own speech models. The company said it trained these models using publicly available datasets and worked with native-speaking volunteers to review transcripts and verify accuracy.
Broader product context and funding
This announcement comes as Otter expands beyond transcription into broader workplace AI tools. The company previously raised $320 million from General Catalyst.
Recent product additions include Work Mode, which uses meeting history and connected apps to help users prepare for upcoming calls by surfacing previous customer conversations, outstanding action items, teammates’ notes from similar calls, and recent Google Drive files.
Another recent feature, Live Assist, provides real-time coaching during meetings by analyzing the conversation and offering context-relevant suggestions based on what has been said and what is happening in the moment.
Otter’s multilingual transcription and language expansion aim to streamline collaboration for international teams and reduce friction caused by language differences.
