Translation earbuds made by Shenzhen start-up making 'big noises' on global market

Chinese-made smart translation earbuds capable of real-time interpretation have become a sought-after product worldwide while throwing a spotlight on Timekettle, a start-up business behind them based in Shenzhen, a vibrant advanced manufacturing hub in south China's Guangdong Province.

Located in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, Timekettle has created a market-leading product with simultaneous interpretation powered by artificial intelligence.

Jordan Gray, an American national who lives in China, has been looking for a wearable translation device that allows for seamless, natural conversations. He says that Timekettle’s earbuds can translate spoken words from different languages within a five-second delay, making communication incredibly easy.

"It's amazing for being able to actually connect people. I've used a lot of ‘transies’ [translation apps] on the phone which gets in between people. This device is amazing," said Gray.

The buzz is not just attracting new customers. Existing clients are placing fresh orders. A South Korean buyer plans to order 5,000 units this year, and a long-term North American client is expected to make a purchase of 10,000 units.

One-on-one real-time interpretation has previously relied heavily on bilingual speakers. Simultaneous interpretation with earbuds requires accurate recognition of a wearer's voice, a challenge that Timekettle has been tackling with over half of its 100 employees specializing in acoustics and interpretation algorithms.

"We've developed a world-first algorithm that can identify voices based on direction and distance and collect them. By doing so, the translation will be more accurate," said Tian Li, founder of Timekettle.

To gather data from noisy environments and eliminate background noise, Timekettle’s research and development team has been testing the device in various settings around the city.

"The earbuds have tiny batteries, but the algorithm is complicated, so we've done extensive optimization to make the algorithm run smoothly on such small hardware," said Shi Wei, head of Timekettle's research and development team.

The team also collaborates with top-tier interpreters to shorten translation times. Zhao Chenwei, an interpreter with over 20 years of experience in Chinese-English simultaneous interpretation, expressed his enthusiasm for human-machine collaboration.

"How to use technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs is something that many talented young people with big ambitions are innovating for the future of the translation industry. As a veteran interpreter, I'm thrilled," said Zhao.

With an average team age of just 28, the startup holds over 100 global patents, and its translation earbuds are sold in more than 170 countries and regions, capturing a 40 percent market share in North America.

"I think that startups should solve problems we meet in life, which is also the value of a business. We have a clear path, now it's all about working hard to make it and see it through to the end," said Tian.

Translation earbuds made by Shenzhen start-up making 'big noises' on global market

Translation earbuds made by Shenzhen start-up become sought-after product at global market

The Trump administration's move to cut public funding for the Voice of America (VOA), a propaganda tool for the U.S. government, is due to competing interests and struggles between different political factions, a Chinese expert said during an interview on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order, which listed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of VOA, as part of "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy.

More than 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, producers and assistants, were reportedly placed on administrative leave on Saturday.

Diao Daming, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China, shared his insights on why Trump halted funding for the agency during his second term.

"He feels that VOA has not effectively fulfilled its mission to make the United States great again and serve the country's interests. On the other hand, public opinion institutions under the USAGM, including VOA, have been openly critical of Trump, his team, and his administration, particularly regarding certain policies during his first term. After assuming office for a second term, Trump swiftly implemented this tough measure, which is evidently influenced by competing interests and struggles between different political factions," said Diao.

Founded in 1942, the VOA has long served as a political tool for the U.S. government, engaging in ideological confrontation and shaping public opinion. For over 80 years, regardless of whether the Democratic or Republican Party was in power, funding for institutions like VOA remained uninterrupted.

Experts described the VOA as a propaganda machine aimed at ideological infiltration in certain regions, as many of its programs are inaccessible within the United States and are instead broadcast exclusively to specific countries abroad.

"In the past, when I served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, I encountered VOA reporters at domestic events, international conferences, and various occasions. They would, for example, selectively ask questions during interviews, selectively edit our responses, and then selectively report and broadcast them. Given such practices, how much credibility can VOA really have?" said Yang Yujun, dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs at the Communication University of China.

Trump's cut to VOA due to struggles between different political factions: expert