ChatGPT just quietly launched a Google Translate rival — here's how it works

1. Go to ChatGPT Translate

Open your web browser and navigate to the ChatGPT Translate website. You don't need a ChatGPT account to use the translation tool — it's accessible to anyone without login requirements.

The interface shows two text boxes side by side, similar to Google Translate's layout. The left box is for your original text, and the right box displays the translation.

2. Select your source and target languages

Click the "Detect language" dropdown above the left text box. ChatGPT Translate supports 50 languages, including major options like Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic and Portuguese.

If you're not sure what language your text is in, leave it on "Detect language" and ChatGPT will identify it automatically.

Then select your target language from the dropdown above the right text box.

3. Type or paste your text

Start typing directly into the left text box, or paste text you've copied from another source. Translations appear live in the right box as you type, updating in real-time with each new word or sentence.

You can translate anything from single sentences to multiple paragraphs. The tool handles casual messages, formal documents, website content, or any other text you need converted to another language.

4. Refine the translation tone and style

Below the text boxes, you'll see quick prompt options: Make more fluent, Business formal, For a child, and Academic audience. These refinement options set ChatGPT Translate apart from basic translation tools.

Click any of these prompts to adjust how the translation sounds. When you tap a refinement prompt, it opens the request directly in ChatGPT with your original text and the chosen modification already applied. ChatGPT then provides a refined version of the translation tailored to your selected style.