Google DeepMind launches SL2T, a multilingual sign-language-to-text model debuting on the Pixel 11 in Gboard and Live Transcribe, first for ASL to English text
The new model is embedded in Gboard and Live Transcribe rather than introduced as a separate destination. Its initial ASL-to-English-text scope matters because it puts a narrowly defined signing workflow into communication tools people already use.
First-order effects
Pixel 11 users gain ASL-to-English text output in Gboard and Live Transcribe, placing Google DeepMind's model directly inside typing and transcription workflows.
Google's accessibility stack gains a sign-language input layer, while users outside the initial ASL-to-English direction are not covered by this debut.
Second-order effects
Embedding SL2T in Gboard and Live Transcribe makes Pixel's accessibility proposition depend on integrated software surfaces, not solely on a standalone model or app.
The initial language direction creates a clear expansion path for Google DeepMind: additional sign languages or output languages would determine whether SL2T becomes a broader multilingual communication layer.
Third-order effects
If Google extends SL2T beyond its first language pair, sign-language recognition may become another ambient device capability alongside transcription and live interpretation rather than a specialized accessibility feature.
The pattern shifts accessibility AI toward multimodal interfaces, where speech, eye input, and signing can each feed the same on-device communication surfaces.
The trend: Google is folding more accessibility inputs into the Pixel's everyday communication layer, moving from speech transcription toward multimodal assistance.
SL2T is our breakthrough sign language-to-text model powering new features for Deaf and hard of hearing users on @Android. Starting with American Sign Language-to-English on Pixel 11, people can sign directly into Gboard and Live Transcribe instead of typing. [video]
SL2T is state-of-the-art on academic benchmarks, plus it's optimized for real-world use like one-handed signing while holding a phone. To protect privacy, it tracks body poses on-device, while our servers translate them into text. [video]
Google DeepMind just built an AI that understands sign language. 🤟🤲👋 It's called SL2T. Trained on 100,000+ hours of multilingual sign language data across 50+ languages.   It launches on Pixel 11 inside Gboard & Live Transcribe. You sign at your phone instead of [video]
One of the most important updates coming out of Made by Google today is our new sign-to-text feature in Gboard & Live Transcribe. Built in partnership with the Deaf community, this can help people who sign ASL communicate more seamlessly with their phone or with those who don't […
Google DeepMind is doing some crazy work. This is so good and is going to help so many people. They just launched SL2T (Sign Language to Text), an AI model that translates sign language directly into text. Most spoken language dictation tools rely on audio to text, but sign [vide…
We built SL2T with the Deaf community - guided by Deaf Googlers and our AI Sign Language Advisory Committee. Bringing ASL input to phones is just the beginning and we're working to expand this technology to more sign languages and applications. Find out more → [image]
For years, building AI for sign language has been slow due to complex technical challenges and misconceptions about how the languages work. We addressed this by training a model to translate simultaneous movements of the hands, body, and face directly into text, using huge
Today, Google and Google DeepMind launched SL2T, our breakthrough sign language-to-text model powering new features for Deaf and hard of hearing users on Android. …