As the CEO of a localization company, I’ve seen firsthand how AI is reshaping the language industry. Hundreds of millions of people now use ChatGPT daily, and a new possibility is emerging: website and app translation.

With its ability to learn from users across nearly every language and culture, can ChatGPT eliminate online language barriers? Maybe so.

In this post, I’ll explore ChatGPT translations, share best practices, and see how it compares to other popular tools like Google Translate. Join me as we dig into this potential game-changer for localization.

Can ChatGPT Translate Well?

Although Google Translate has been the standard for machine translation for years, ChatGPT’s new capabilities offer stiff competition. 

Unlike earlier versions that struggled with idioms and context, GPT-5 excels in understanding subtleties and nuances of language translation. This great news for businesses that need a fast, affordable way to translate text online.

For example, Udacity now offers an AI-powered virtual tutor, built with GPT, to give students personalized guidance and feedback. It breaks down tough problems, explains jargon, and even translates when courses aren’t in a learner’s native language:

Another cool example: the State Government of Minnesota leans on ChatGPT website translation to auto-translate key documents into Spanish, Hmong, and Somali, with human reviewers ensuring quality. It’s a bold move to increase language equity and accessibility in Minnesota.

Testing ChatGPT’s Translation Skills

Want to see ChatGPT’s translation in action?

I tested an idiomatic Spanish phrase and asked it to translate it into English. Here’s how it stacks up against Google Translate.

I’m impressed with the AI’s understanding of a common Spanish phrase, "El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.”  Google Translate delivered a literal translation, but ChatGPT excelled in capturing context, with phrases that better convey the original meaning. Not bad for a machine.

In my view, ChatGPT’s biggest strength is its ability to understand context and adapt to different language styles. Giving it extra details—such as sample documents in both languages—can make translations even better.

I was so impressed by the potential of language AI that I integrated ChatGPT into Localize. More on that soon!

ChatGPT vs. Google Translate: Translation Skills Compared

When it comes to translating as well as a human, how do ChatGPT and Google Translate stack up? In a 2024 test by PCMag, professional translators evaluated both tools.

The verdict? ChatGPT outperformed Google Translate with culturally attuned, nuanced translations. However, Google Translate held its own, especially for less common languages. 

The Pros of ChatGPT Translation

Free AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming how companies approach language barriers. Here’s why ChatGPT stands out.

1. Supercharging the translation process

AI tools like ChatGPT don’t replace human translators; they supercharge them. AI is a tool to help translators do their job more efficiently so they can focus on content that needs more attention, whether it’s an important marketing site or a customer privacy policy.

2. Faster global expansion speed

AI translation presents a significant opportunity for rapid market expansion. Reddit is a prime example, with more than 50% of its user base based outside the US. The company expects substantial growth as it introduces new languages.

3. Hands-on multilingual service

Companies like Airbnb use ChatGPT to offer hands-on multilingual service via chatbots. This enhances the support experience for international users.

4. Saving time on monotonous repetitive tasks

Generative AI is also an incredible time saver in the e-commerce industry. For example, retailers like Walmart and Amazon use ChatGPT to automate translations for their search engines and write and translate product descriptions. Walmart execs say generative AI is 100 times faster than people at these repetitive tasks.

5. Real-time voice translation with ChatGPT5

One brand-new ChatGPT translation capability for 2025 is real-time voice translation. Forbes shared that GPT-5 can imitate various accents, speak at different speeds, and generally seem highly authentic in a range of languages.

6. Continuous improvements

ChatGPT’s 4O model earned high marks from Slator linguists for its ability to understand slang and nuance.  Additionally, OpenAI says GPT-5 is 45% less likely to contain factual errors than GPT-4O, which sounds promising for ChatGPT translation quality.

The Cons of ChatGPT Translation

While ChatGPT brings impressive power and speed to translation, it’s not without drawbacks.

1. Potential errors and misunderstandings

Generative AI, which is primarily trained in English, can sometimes produce errors. Reuters reported that immigration applications translated with GPT contained mistakes like names turning into months, missing crucial details, and even reversing immigration sentences.

2. Possible biases in AI 

AI chatbots are significantly less capable in languages other than English. Researchers say this threatens to amplify existing bias in global commerce and innovation. Although OpenAI pledges to fix ChatGPT, they admit that AI has been biased in the past.

3. AI hallucinations

Did you know AI can hallucinate? All artificial intelligence models have shown a tendency to fabricate information, raising concerns among experts about the potential risks of AI in critical or customer-facing contexts. Researchers say that eliminating all errors is impossible, but AI companies can work to reduce their hallucination rates.

4. Lack of real-time learning

If you’ve talked to anyone in Gen Alpha lately, you know how fast language changes. A trend can fizzle in days. 

Unlike human translators, who naturally keep up with new slang and microtrends, GPT’s knowledge is frozen at a point in time. That means it can miss emerging terms or cultural shifts. 

For translations, it’s essential to have a local expert who understands your audience and can ensure AI output stays current and accurate.

5. Privacy concerns 

ChatGPT saves user inputs, so you’ll need to avoid sharing confidential information in chats. Anything you type may be stored and potentially influence responses for other users. This risk is important to remember when using ChatGPT for translating sensitive content like websites, legal documents, or policies.

6. Disparities in training data

Generative AI is trained on only a fraction of the world’s 7,000 languages, leading to potential bias and serious errors. In industries like law or healthcare, for example, mistranslations can be dangerous. A recent study showed that ChatGPT fell short in translation, especially compared to senior experts.

A Time-Tested Translation and Localization Solution

So, what’s the best approach to website translation today? The answer is both AI and human translation. 

At Localize, we recommend using ChatGPT translation with human post-editing, where a translator refines AI-translated content to make it sound natural and accurate. This way, you benefit from the speed of AI and the accuracy of certified translators. 

Choosing the Best AI Translation Tool for Websites and Apps

Whether you’re excited about AI or wary of it, there’s no denying it’s reshaping translation in 2025. 

I predict that tools like ChatGPT will support companies in speeding up processes and improving accuracy during the localization process, similar to how developers use it for debugging and editing code. That’s why we’ve built AI into the Localize platform.

Localize offers a complete TMS (translation management system) that integrates human and AI translation seamlessly. Partnering with a TMS simplifies localization for websites and apps, with fast, reliable options for every budget—and automatic updates anytime you need them.

Introducing our Latest AI Integrations

To help you stay ahead, we’ve expanded our ChatGPT translation capabilities with:

• Integrations with OpenAI, Google, DeepL, and more
  Translate instantly with the AI model behind ChatGPT or choose another that fits your needs.
• Privacy-safe data protections
  Your data is never used to train AI or LLMs. All content stays private to each project, with no cross-project sharing.
• Translation Insights
  Analyze translations for accuracy, tone, formality, and style. Get a score plus suggested improvements. It’s like having your own AI translation coach.
• AI Retranslations
  Need to adjust length, tone, or other parameters? One-click AI actions automatically rework your translations—perfect for fitting text into layout constraints.
• AI Style Guide
  We can scan your existing site and create an AI-powered style guide so translations match your brand voice flawlessly.

And this is just the beginning—expect even more AI integrations from Localize soon.

Ready to elevate your site’s reach? Contact us to see how Localize can streamline your translation process.