Blog Articles

Nowadays, as globalisation and the internet continue to expand, it is increasingly uncommon to host an event (whether a meeting, conference, corporate town hall, hybrid webinar, or summit) where everyone involved speaks the same language. On the contrary, most meetings, whether high- or low-stakes, bring together people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Yet many event organisers still default to a single language — often English — under the assumption that "most participants will understand it." This assumption is not only exclusionary for participants who may feel inhibited or lost in the conversation; it also carries hidden costs for organisations and the outcomes of the event. As language partners such as Interprefy have seen time and again, opting out of full multilingual support is, in reality, a business risk.

Organisations from all over the world are starting to rethink how they communicate internally and externally. Multilingual technology is emerging as a strategic capability, not simply a tool for major conferences. Interprefy’s latest market research across APAC and the Middle East shows that demand for real-time multilingual support continues to rise, with 86% of Middle Eastern organisers and 71% of APAC organisers identifying strong attendee expectations for live translation and interpretation at events of every type and format.

The race to build AI-powered multilingual communication took another major turn this month as Cisco finalised its acquisition of EzDubs — the Y Combinator-backed real-time translation startup known for its voice-preserving technology. Cisco had initially announced its intent to acquire the company in November, and EzDubs will now be folded into Cisco’s Collaboration portfolio, including Webex, signalling an acceleration of Cisco’s ambition to make multilingual communication a native feature of its ecosystem.

As global organisations prepare for 2026, the need to communicate seamlessly across languages has never been more urgent. The rapid evolution of AI language translation, the rising maturity of real-time translation services, and the increasing expectations of multilingual audiences are reshaping how businesses, institutions, and event teams plan for the year ahead. Yet amidst a myriad of AI-only tools entering the market, one truth is increasingly clear: enterprises still need accuracy, accountability, and stability — especially when multilingual communication directly impacts brand reputation, stakeholder trust, and mission-critical outcomes.

As we stand on the cusp of 2026, it's a perfect moment to reflect on the remarkable journey that has brought Interprefy to over 10 years of innovation in language technology and multilingual accessibility. Founded with a vision to revolutionise multilingual communication, Interprefy has consistently pushed boundaries, embracing innovation to bridge language gaps across the globe. Over the past decade, we have grown from a humble startup into a trusted partner and provider for enterprises, government bodies, NGOs, international institutions, and organisations across a wide range of sectors, helping them navigate the complexities of multilingual events seamlessly.

As you finalise planning for your organisation's upcoming Sales Kick-Off (SKO) in January-March 2026, ask yourself three questions: Are all your regional teams — large or small — aligned on the same strategic message? Are those teams fully engaged during the event? And will the key updates, breakout discussions, and leadership messages be clearly understood and remembered over time? 

If the answer to any of these is “not entirely”, then your SKO — whether you run a global event, a departmental one, or a smaller regional meeting — may under-deliver.

The multilingual communication landscape is shifting quickly. Cisco’s recent intent to acquire EzDubs, a startup known for speech-to-speech translation that preserves tone and voice characteristics, is the latest signal that major platforms are accelerating their push into AI-driven language services. If the acquisition is finalised, Webex will eventually benefit from more natural, voice-preserving translation technology.

AI interpretation has advanced rapidly in the last few years, reshaping how organisations think about accessibility and multilingual engagement. From instant captions to automated speech translation, the technology now promises speed, reach, and efficiency at a scale unimaginable a decade ago.

But the question many event organisers are asking as 2026 approaches is not whether AI is possible. It’s whether AI is trustworthy.

The answer lies in a quiet revolution reshaping how companies document communication: AI-enhanced transcription.