LA County Board Meetings to Offer Real-Time Translations in 70 Languages

Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger Friday announced a new initiative to expand language access at board meetings and hearings through real-time translation and interpretation in more than 70 languages.

The service, powered by artificial intelligence, will be available on mobile phones and computers for residents attending meetings virtually or in person.

“Every resident has the right to engage with their local government,” Barger said in a statement. “This service is an important step and valuable resource to ensure that the diverse communities that make up our county can have their voices heard.”

The county previously used the AI technology during press conferences about January’s wildfires.

To use the service during board meetings, residents can take the following steps:

• Visit attend.wordly.ai/join/QHKT-4397;
• Click “attend” and select your preferred language; and
• Watch the automatic translated captions, listen to live-interpreted audio, and unmute the speaker icon.

“Expanding the language access capabilities underscores the need for making L.A. County services more accessible to everyone,” Executive Officer Eward Yen said in a statement. “By making this translation service available, we make L.A. County governance more transparent and accessible for all.”