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vidby

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vidby AG
Company typeAktiengesellschaft
IndustryTechnology
PredecessorDROTR (Droid Translator)
Founded2021; 3 years ago (2021) in Rotkreuz
FounderAlexander Konovalov, Eugen von Rubinberg
Headquarters
Rotkreuz (canton of Zug)
,
Switzerland
Websitehttps://vidby.com/

vidby AG (stylized in lower-case) is a start-up based in Rotkreuz, Switzerland specializing in AI language translation for videos. Founded by Alexander Konovalov (uk:Олександр Коновалов) and Eugen von Rubinberg in September 2021, the company has especially garnered attention for its use in translating speeches given by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.[1][2][3][4]

History

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vidby AG was founded by Alexander Konovalov and Eugen von Rubinberg.[5] Konovalov is a native of Ukraine[6] and retains Ukrainian citizenship; Rubinberg came to Switzerland from Germany and holds German citizenship. Both are residents of Switzerland.[7] The latter founded his first business, a trading company, at age 16.[8]

In 2013, the business partners launched a consumer-oriented video-call translation service called DROTR (Droid Translator) AG, utilizing a Konovalov-created AI-powered language translation technology enabling simultaneous translation of messages, voice and video calls in 104 languages (written), with 44 available in spoken form.[9][10] This was the world's first video calling app with translation.[11][12] The technology was pronounced a competitor of Skype and Viber by Forbes and claimed first prize at the "Innovative Breakthrough 2013" Competition.[13][14]

In 2021, with a new business-oriented focus, DROTR became vidby, with the former Google technology partners Konovalov and Rubinberg remaining at the helm, each with the title Co-CEO.[15] While headquartered in Switzerland, vidby's development team is, according to the company's founders, based in Ukraine.[16] The technology behind vidby has an accuracy level variously reported as up to 99 percent or 99 to 100 percent, equalling the highest level of human translation.[17][18][19] Additionally, the technology is capable of removing the original language while maintaining ambient sounds.[20] Currently, some 70 languages plus 60 dialects are possible with the algorithm-based technology.[21] In 2024, Alexander Konovalov initiated the idea of preserving linguistic diversity in the world using AI technologies. [22]


Notable use

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In addition to its use with speeches delivered by Pope Francis,[23] the technology has been provided to Ukrainian authorities and embassies during the ongoing military conflict with Russia free of remuneration.[24] By July, 2022, some 70 speeches given by President Zelenskyy totalling 650 minutes had been translated into 30 languages, for a total of over 10,000 minutes of video material.[25] Of its use in translating Zelenskyy's wartime speeches, Konovalov has said, "Like any citizen, I want to help defend my country."[26]

Notable corporate clients of vidby include Samsung, Siemens, Cisco, Kärcher, Generali and McDonald's Corporation; an academic client is Harvard University.[27][28][29][30][31]

Google Cloud Technology Partner status of vidby was confirmed officially after a 6-month audit in December 2022.[32]

Denys Krasnikov, vidby Co-founder is responsible for cooperation with Google, YouTube, Microsoft, and other key partners. After the launch of multilingual YouTube channels, vidby started AI translating and dubbing creators' videos for this new type of channel at the end of February 2023.

Accolades

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vidby headed a list of the five best video translation services as named by TechRadar Deutschland in September, 2022.[33] In the same month, Tech Times named vidby #1 in their list of the five best such services.[34] It similarly topped a list of the five best content translation technologies as judged by European Business Review in October, 2022.[35] Prior to these lead-position rankings (August, 2022), it was featured as Business Insider's special start-up recommendation (German: "Unser Lesetipp auf Gründerszene").[36]

In 2023, YouTube recognized vidby as its recommended vendor.[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Forbes, "Ukraine Startup Translates Videos For Zelensky, While Adjusting To Work In A War Zone", Anne Field, July 29, 2022
  2. ^ Die Welt, "Unser patriotischer Beitrag: Schweizer Start-up übersetzt Selenskyj-Reden kostenlos" (German text), Thomas Heuzeroth, August 07, 2022
  3. ^ t3n.de, "KI eines Schweizer Startups übersetzt Selenskyj-Reden in bis zu 30 Sprachen" (German text), Jörn Brien, August 10, 2022
  4. ^ Business Insider, "99 Prozent Genauigkeit: Wie ein Schweizer Startup Selenskyjs Reden übersetzt" (German text), Thomas Heuzeroth, August 16, 2022
  5. ^ "Swiss Startup Vidby.com Helps Achieve Up to 99% Accuracy in Video Translation Thanks to Artificial Intelligence". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  6. ^ ausweis.io, "Alexander Konovalov", December 12, 2020
  7. ^ Central Business Name Index (Switzerland), "vidby AG" (English and German text)
  8. ^ oe24, "Neuer Messenger greift WhatsApp an" (German text), staff writers, May 18, 2017
  9. ^ Chip.de, "Wie im Science-Fiction-Film: Gratis-Tool lässt Sie in fremden Sprachen telefonieren", Karsten Bunz, November 24, 2017
  10. ^ Blick, "Schweizer App Drotr übersetzt 104 Sprachen" (German text), Lorenz Keller, April 12, 2017 (updated October 10, 2018)
  11. ^ Forbes, "Startups YouGiver And Prsnt Unwrap Shiny New Social Gifting Concepts", Kevin Razario, Dec 17, 2021,
  12. ^ Kyiv Post, "Ukrainian company’s translation app to help transcend language barriers", Isabel Douglas-Hamilton, July 18, 2013
  13. ^ ausweis.io, "Alexander Konovalov", December 12, 2020
  14. ^ Encyclopedia of Safety, "Ukrainian created a rival Skype and Viber", A. Prohanov, October 18, 2013
  15. ^ vidby.com, "Team Leitung" (German text)
  16. ^ Tech Company News, "Vidby Helps You Translate Any Video Or Audio File Into 70+ Languages", staff writers, May 10, 2022
  17. ^ Tech Times, "How AI-powered Speech Translation Will Shape the Future of Video Content", David Thompson, June 07, 2022
  18. ^ Wirtschaftsforum, "Übersetzungsplattform vidby - Vorteile von KI und Videoübersetzung für die Wirtschaft" (German text), staff writers, November 24, 2022
  19. ^ Cloudmagazin, "Cloudbasierte Übersetzungsprogramme für Videoinhalte" (German text), staff writers, November 23, 2022
  20. ^ Moneycab, "Dubbing Anbieter im Vergleich, oder wie übersetze ich ein Video in viele Sprachen?" (German text), staff writers, December 09, 2022,
  21. ^ Moneycab, "vidby: Ein neuer globaler Markt entsteht aus dem Herzen der mehrsprachigen Schweiz heraus" (German text), staff writers, May 31, 2022
  22. ^ "The End of English Dominance: Vidby Advocates for Linguistic Diversity in Business". CEOWORLD Magazine. June 19, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Die Tagespost, "Start-up „Vidby“: Sie lassen Papst in 70 Sprachen sprechen" (German text), Stefan Ahrens, September 08, 2022
  24. ^ Scinexx, "Videoübersetzung von vidby und Co.: KI hat das Zeug zum Gamechanger" (German text), staff writers, November 22, 2022
  25. ^ t3n.de, "KI eines Schweizer Startups übersetzt Selenskyj-Reden in bis zu 30 Sprachen" (German text), Jörn Brien, August 10, 2022
  26. ^ Forbes, "Ukraine Startup Translates Videos For Zelensky, While Adjusting To Work In A War Zone", Anne Field, July 29, 2022
  27. ^ Die Welt, "Unser patriotischer Beitrag: Schweizer Start-up übersetzt Selenskyj-Reden kostenlos" (German text), Thomas Heuzeroth, August 07, 2022
  28. ^ t3n.de, "KI eines Schweizer Startups übersetzt Selenskyj-Reden in bis zu 30 Sprachen" (German text), Jörn Brien, August 10, 2022
  29. ^ Global News Wire, "Swiss Startup Vidby.com Helps Achieve Up to 99% Accuracy in Video Translation Thanks to Artificial Intelligence", May 03, 2022
  30. ^ Wirtschaftsforum, "Übersetzungsplattform vidby - Vorteile von KI und Videoübersetzung für die Wirtschaft" (German text), staff writers, November 24, 2022
  31. ^ Finance Magnates, "Harvard University Hires Swiss AI Firm Vidby to Translate Training Videos", James Clifford, December 12, 2022
  32. ^ "Vidby AG". cloud.google.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  33. ^ TechRadar, "Die Top 5 der Videoübersetzungsdienste 2022" (German text), staff writers, September 26, 2022
  34. ^ Tech Times, "Translate a Video for Global Influence: Top 5 Best Video Translation Services in 2022," Thea Felicity, September 20, 2022
  35. ^ European Business Review, "Video Content Translation – The Five Best Platforms at A Glance," staff writers, October 21, 2022
  36. ^ Business Insider, "Lage beim Berliner Fintech Nuri spitzt sich zu" (German text), Barbara Barkhausen, August 09, 2022
  37. ^ "The Recommended Vendor of YouTube that is a perfect solution for video localization and translation for multi-language channels". cloud.google.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
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