Amazon has launched a new AI translation service for Kindle Direct Publishing authors, giving independent writers a faster way to reach new readers in other languages.

The new tool is called Kindle Translate and it is launching in beta. Only a limited group of KDP authors can access it for now. It can translate between English and Spanish, and from German to English.

Amazon says fewer than 5 per cent of titles on Amazon.com are available in more than one language. Translation is expensive, time consuming and hard to scale at an indie author level. Kindle Translate is marketed as a way to remove that barrier.

Authors using the service can select what languages they want, set prices and publish directly through the KDP portal. Amazon says fully formatted translated books can be published within days. Before anything goes live, translations are automatically evaluated by the system for accuracy. Authors can review drafts or opt to auto publish without manual review.

This launch builds on Amazon KDP’s pitch to creators: global reach with minimal overhead. And some authors say this is the first time translation at scale has been financially realistic for them.

“For decades, indie authors have been unable to find a cost-effective and trustworthy solution to foreign language translation. With services like Kindle Translate, we are able to easily bring our stories to a wide international audience, a win for authors and readers,” said independent romance author Roxanne St. Claire.

Another KDP author, Kristen Painter, said translation is one of the smartest ways to increase both audience and revenue. “Foreign translations open doors to new readers around the world and give my titles a second life,” she said.

Readers will be able to buy Kindle Translate eBooks in the Amazon store like any other title. Translated books will be eligible for KDP Select and can be included in Kindle Unlimited.

It will be interesting to see if the algorithm can correctly interpret the nuance and intent behind words, rather than just swapping words out. In the Amazon store, readers will see clear labels showing a book has been translated by the service. Samples will also be available so that readers can preview how the translation reads.

More languages are expected to follow.