VLC Player Introduces AI Real-Time Subtitling at CES 2025

The Revolutionary Update for VLC: AI Subtitling and Translation at CES 2025

VLC, the popular open-source video player, was the center of attention at CES 2025, showcasing an innovative feature: automatic AI subtitling and translation. This groundbreaking advancement, demonstrated by VideoLAN's president Jean-Baptiste Kempf, runs locally on users' machines, providing real-time subtitles generated offline.

What’s New in VLC?

During the event, Kempf highlighted how the new functionality uses open-source AI models to create subtitles for videos in numerous languages. He emphasized, "At the same time, we have automatic translation working to translate the subtitles to your own language," revealing the ambitious plans to support over 100 languages.

Local and Offline Functionality

One of the vital aspects of this new feature is its ability to operate without relying on cloud services. As Kempf stated, "It runs directly inside the executable." This ensures users can enjoy seamless subtitling and translation while maintaining their privacy and conserving bandwidth.

Background and Development

AI-powered subtitling has been in the works as a plug-in utilizing OpenAI’s Whisper speech recognition system. However, the demo at CES indicates that this feature will be fully integrated directly into the VLC application, allowing for real-time generated translated subtitles.

Celebrating Success: 6 Billion Downloads

This year, VideoLAN marked a significant milestone, celebrating 6 billion downloads of VLC. Kempf shared the exciting news, stating, "The number of active users of VLC is actually growing, even in this age of streaming services." This showcases VLC's enduring appeal and adaptability in a competitive market.

What’s Next for VideoLAN?

As CES 2025 progresses, interested attendees will seek out VideoLAN on the show floor to experience the AI subtitling in action firsthand. While there's no official release date for the feature yet, the demonstration has generated significant interest and excitement in the tech community.

Conclusion

The unveiling of AI subtitling and translation at CES 2025 places VLC at the forefront of video playback technology. By integrating these advanced features locally and offline, VideoLAN continues to honor its commitment to open-source principles, providing users with innovative tools for a better viewing experience.

Stay Updated on VLC’s Innovations

For more information on VLC and its features, visit VideoLAN’s official website. Keep an eye out for updates as this exciting technology develops further!