Google is competing with Duolingo by introducing a language learning feature.

      Learning a new language is a common goal, but it can be quite challenging to accomplish. Platforms like Duolingo have gained traction by incorporating game-like elements into language acquisition, and now Google has introduced its own version, launching an experimental suite of enjoyable language learning tools powered by its Gemini AI.

      Google refers to this new feature as Little Language Lessons, describing it as “a compilation of three short learning experiments, all driven by Google’s Gemini models.” The concept is to customize language advice based on the specific situations you are in — whether you're dining at a restaurant, catching a flight, or handling travel issues like a lost passport.

      The Tiny Lesson experiment allows you to enter the language you want to learn and the context you're in, providing vocabulary, phrases, and useful tips that offer additional insights on topics such as politeness or how to formulate a request. At the end of each section, you can click the See More button for additional entries, allowing you to quickly access essential words and phrases related to your current situation.

      The Slang Hang experiment caters to those who wish to hone their language skills in a more informal, realistic manner. It produces simulated dialogues between two native speakers, featuring the slang and casual expressions that people use in everyday communication, which are often absent from textbooks. The option to translate each segment of text clarifies any terms you might find unfamiliar or confusing.

      Lastly, the Word Cam experiment is arguably the most impressive feature, enabling you to take a photo with your phone’s camera and have it recognize objects in your environment. It will present the names of those objects in your selected language, providing a quick method to access relevant vocabulary based on what you observe.

      The current range of supported languages varies depending on which of the three experiments you explore, but includes Chinese, French, Spanish, German, English, Portuguese, and Russian. Additionally, you can choose specific dialects for certain languages, like Austrian for German or Argentinian for Spanish, enhancing localization further.

      You can test out the Little Language Lessons on Google Labs, though Google cautions users that this is an early-stage experiment and advises verifying any AI-generated content with trustworthy sources.