United States – Business communications platform provider 8×8 has announced a new set of enhancements to its 8×8 AI Studio platform, including live simultaneous voice translation, expanded AI model options, additional system integrations, and new tools for building and managing AI-powered customer service agents.
The latest addition, live simultaneous voice translation, is now available in early access and enables agents and customers to converse in different languages during the same call. The feature currently supports 13 languages and is designed to provide real-time translations without requiring users to switch communication channels, involve human interpreters, or interrupt ongoing conversations.
According to 8×8, the system allows customers to speak in their preferred language while agents hear an AI-generated translation in their own language, with the original voice remaining audible in the background. The translation process also works in reverse, allowing both parties to communicate naturally throughout the interaction.
The company said the capability is intended to address common customer service challenges that arise when agents and customers do not share a common language. Instead of transferring calls, arranging callbacks, or ending interactions prematurely, organisations can continue support conversations with the same agent.
The translation functionality is integrated directly into the 8×8 AI Studio voice agent and advisor environment. Language mismatches are detected automatically, and both the original speech and translated content are stored within call records and displayed in the live advisor interface. This allows supervisors and quality assurance teams to review conversations using both versions of the interaction.
The new translation feature builds on earlier AI model enhancements within the platform, including support for OpenAI’s GPT-Realtime-2 model, which the company said improves transcription accuracy for accented and non-native speech.
Since launching AI Studio earlier this year, 8×8 has also introduced several additional capabilities. These include support for multiple large language models, allowing organisations to select among Claude, Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT for individual agents across voice and text channels.
The platform has also expanded its integration ecosystem with one-click connectors for applications including HubSpot, Slack, Stripe, Atlassian, Twilio, GitHub, Asana, Figma, Intercom, Dropbox, and ClickUp.
Other additions include a tool that converts existing 8×8 auto-attendant phone systems into AI Studio call flows, voice-based agent creation through push-to-talk transcription, and an embeddable customer engagement widget that supports both voice and text interactions, image sharing, and escalation to live agents.
“I’ve spent much of my life living abroad, and I know from experience how isolating a language barrier can be,” said Emil Ivov, VP of Product for Video Platform and Services at 8×8, Inc. “As an international student in France, even simple tasks like contacting a service provider or calling customer support could feel overwhelming. Those challenges still affect millions of people every day. With real-time translation in 8×8 AI Studio, we’re helping organisations communicate with customers in their preferred language, making support more accessible, more natural, and more human.”
Live voice translation in 8×8 AI Studio is currently available to customers through an early availability program. The company also reiterated its commitment to responsible AI deployment, stating that the platform is developed and operated in line with security standards, compliance frameworks, and privacy-by-design principles intended to protect customer data.
