How Timekettle’s real-time AI translation earbuds are redefining global communication

At CES 2025, Gizmodo caught up with Leal Tian, ​​founder of Timekettle, to explore the company’s approach to cross-language communication. Award-winning technology innovator, recognized with prestigious awards such as CES Innovation Awardredefines how people communicate across linguistic boundaries.

With over 400,000 users and a commitment to Artificial intelligence translation technologyLil Tian shared compelling insights into Timekettle’s vision of a world free of language barriers.

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Gizmodo: Timekettle has been making waves with its innovative translation devices. What drives Timekettle’s success?

Lil Tian: Our core belief is simple: communication is more than just translation. From the beginning, we’ve aimed to bridge the gaps between people – not just by translating words but by creating real, immersive communication experiences. Our motto, “Contact is connection” Really embodies that philosophy.

“Communication is the essence of human communication.”

Gizmodo: Can you explain how Timekettle achieves this immersive communication experience?

Lil Tian: Our focus is on making technology invisible. For example, with the wearable translator series, users don’t feel like they’re using a device. They maintain natural eye contact, use body language, and communicate authentically. Babel OS is the backbone of this effort. It’s not just software, it’s an entire ecosystem that integrates hardware, cloud processing, and artificial intelligence.

Gizmodo: What features make Babel OS so unique?

Lil Tian: The first advantage is AI semantic segmentation: it enables lightning-fast translation by optimizing speech segmentation for AI processing. Using an extensive database and advanced algorithms, the system intelligently segments sentences and predicts their completion. This feature speeds up the translation process but also ensures a high level of accuracy. With this innovation, our devices achieve unprecedented speed. Deliver translations in real-time with near-zero latency.

Babel OS also includes features such as Voice reproduction that goes beyond basic speech recognition. It captures your words, tone of voice and emotions so that your personality comes out in a different language. For example, if you are happy or excited, your voice in the subtitles reflects that.

We also focus on solving practical problems, such as offline translation: Users can download translation packages for use in areas with poor connectivity. Although cloud-based translations are more accurate due to processing power, we are constantly improving offline capabilities to ensure seamless experiences.

Gizmodo: Data privacy is a hot topic these days. How does Timekettle ensure that user data is secure?

Lil Tian: This is a top priority for us and our business model does not rely on user data for profit. We strictly adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and similar standards globally. Furthermore, we perform independent third-party audits to ensure that our systems are secure. Users can trust that their data is private and secure with us.

Gizmodo: Speaking of innovation, what’s next for Timekettle?

Lil Tian: In the short term, we are focusing on improving translation accuracy, especially for specialized names and terms. We’re also working to reduce latency to match the speed of human interpreters. Our next major milestone is showcasing our advanced audio reproduction technology at CES.

In the long term, we envision that communication tools will become so integrated into everyday life that users will forget they exist. Imagine having translators built into glasses, earbuds, or even everyday objects.

One area we’re particularly passionate about is creating more personalized user experiences. For example, we are developing a system that allows users to customize translation preferences for specific names or terms for greater accuracy and efficiency. Additionally, innovations like voice reproduction that reflects tone and emotion are key to making conversations sound truly natural.

“We aimed to bridge the gaps between people – not just by translating words but by creating real and immersive communication experiences.”

Gizmodo: What do you think makes Timekettle unique in this field?

Lil Tian: This is our mindset: While others focus on combining translation with trendy devices like smart glasses, we prioritize the natural flow of human communication. For us, it’s not just about hardware or software, it’s about how these elements work together to solve real connectivity problems.

Gizmodo: Can you share an example of how Babel OS improves user experience?

Lil Tian: As mentioned before, a feature like voice reproduction allows users to hear the translations in their own voice, maintaining the natural flow. Users told us this makes conversations feel personal and less robotic. Another example is customizable translation preferences. When our users can teach specific names or terms to the system, it effectively ensures accuracy in future interactions.

Gizmodo: What is your message to our readers?

Lil Tian: Communication is the essence of human communication. At Timekettle, we are committed to breaking down barriers, not only linguistically but culturally as well. Our journey continues, and we are excited to continue innovating to bring people closer together.