VideoLAN, the organization behind the widely-used VLC media player, has showcased an impressive new feature at CES 2025 - real-time AI-powered subtitling and translation capabilities that work completely offline.
In a demonstration video released Tuesday, VideoLAN president Jean-Baptiste Kempf presented the new technology, which can automatically generate subtitles for videos and translate them into over 100 languages, all while running locally on users' devices without requiring cloud connectivity.
The system leverages open-source AI models integrated directly into the VLC application, representing a major advancement over previous subtitle generation methods that relied on external plugins and services.
"This runs directly inside the executable," Kempf explained during the demonstration, highlighting how the feature operates independently without needing internet access or cloud processing.
While the release timeline for this new capability remains unannounced, the development comes as VideoLAN celebrates a remarkable milestone of 6 billion downloads. According to Kempf, VLC continues to see growing user numbers despite the prevalence of streaming platforms.
The offline nature of this AI subtitling system sets it apart from existing solutions that typically require cloud connectivity. This approach ensures greater privacy and accessibility for users, particularly in areas with limited internet access.
This innovation could revolutionize how viewers consume content across language barriers, making video content more accessible to global audiences while maintaining user privacy through local processing.
As CES 2025 continues, the technology community eagerly awaits hands-on demonstrations of this promising new feature in action.