Mountain View is piloting an artificial intelligence translation tool that allows people to follow select city meetings in languages other than English.
The city this week announced that it has begun using Wordly during meetings held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The program provides live translated captions and audio during City Council, Environmental Planning Commission and Rental Housing Committee meetings.
The city has also posted a Wordly flyer online with instructions for using the tool and QR codes that connect people to translation sessions for the meetings.
Wordly can translate the meetings into more than 60 languages, with people able to choose how they want to follow along once they join a session.
The process starts by scanning the QR code for the particular meeting. Users then choose their preferred language and can either read translated captions on their device, listen to translated audio through headphones, or do both.
The new tool, however, doesn’t replace human interpreters already offered by the city. Spanish and Chinese interpretation will continue to be available for City Council meetings when requested in advance, giving attendees the option of using an in-person interpreter rather than the automated system.
Those requests must reach the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. two business days before the meeting. They can be made by calling 650-903-6304 or via email.