In times of crisis, inclusivity and accessibility aren’t just important, they’re essential. AI real-time translation ensures that critical information reaches everyone, not just those who speak the dominant language. As AI continues to evolve, prioritizing inclusivity in emergency response communication will be essential for protecting diverse communities worldwide.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at a breakneck pace, and the entrepreneurs driving this innovation are at the forefront of this revolution. From groundbreaking applications to ethical considerations, these visionaries are shaping the future of AI. What does it take to innovate in such a rapidly evolving field, and how are these entrepreneurs using AI to solve real-world problems? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lakshman Rathnam.
Lakshman Rathnam, Founder & CEO of Wordly, is an innovator with expertise in human-machine interfaces, acoustics, and audio. He launched Wordly in 2017, an AI-powered translation and captioning platform used by over 4 million people in 60+ languages to make meetings and events more inclusive. With 25+ patents, he continues to drive technological advancements and was recognized as a 2021 Trendsetter by Meetings Today magazine.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?
I grew up in a modest middle-class family in India as the youngest of five children. My siblings played a significant role in shaping my early years, offering both guidance and support. Before I turned eleven, I attended a military boarding school where I was immersed in an environment that emphasized responsibility and discipline. The lessons I learned there had a profound impact on me, shaping my character and values. To this day, those experiences continue to define who I am.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Early in my career, I was tasked with designing a fixture to test certain parts. The concept was well thought out and thoroughly discussed. However, I made a crucial mistake in not having the final design reviewed by my peers. As a result, the fixture ended up being oversized and unusable. It was a hard but humbling lesson, one that has stayed with me and has kept me grounded throughout my career. Since then, I’ve made it a point to seek feedback, refine my ideas, and have my designs critiqued by peers to ensure the best possible outcome.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There is no doubt about this, I owe my success to my life partner and wife, Sushma. While there isn’t a single defining moment, it is her unwavering support, guidance, encouragement, and coaching over the years that has shaped who I am. Her constant belief in Wordly’s vision and her steadfast support have been instrumental in getting us to where we are as a company today.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
When I was graduating from high school my math teacher wrote in my senior book, ‘The tallest building stands on the ground.’ That message has stayed with me throughout my life. No matter how much progress or success I achieve, I am grounded to the reality that it’s essential to stay rooted, focus on the fundamentals, and remain true to the principles we set for ourselves.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The three key traits that drive me and that I strive to instill in my team are passion, perseverance, and attention to quality.
First and foremost, I believe everyone should follow their passion and genuinely enjoy what they do. When work aligns with one’s passion, it no longer feels like just a job, it becomes a source of fulfillment and purpose.
Second, perseverance is essential. Staying true to one’s principles and beliefs requires patience and persistence. Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but the determination to find solutions and achieve goals is what leads to success.
Finally, attention to quality is critical. When combined with passion and perseverance, a commitment to excellence ensures that we deliver the best possible solutions while continuously striving to improve.
I firmly believe that passion, perseverance, and quality are the foundation of success in any field.
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Share the story of what inspired you to start working with AI. Was there a particular problem or opportunity that motivated you?
My journey into AI began with a deep passion for breaking down communication barriers. Working in the hard-of-hearing technology field, where I hold several patents, I was focused on improving voice-to-text transcription, particularly in English. However, a pivotal moment occurred when I attended a conference where English wasn’t the primary language. I suddenly found myself functionally deaf, unable to follow discussions. It was an experience that profoundly changed my perspective.
I realized that AI had the potential to go beyond English transcription and solve a much larger global challenge: real-time multilingual communication. This insight opened my eyes to an enormous opportunity in the international meetings sector, where language barriers often hinder participation. Driven by this vision, I set out to develop an AI-powered solution that could provide seamless translation and transcription across multiple languages, making communication accessible for everyone.
Describe a moment when AI achieved something you once thought impossible. What was the breakthrough, and how did it impact your approach going forward?
There was a time when I thought real-time, highly accurate AI translation across multiple languages was impossible, especially for industry-specific terms, names, and nuanced phrases. Early on, we realized that generic AI models struggled to consistently deliver precise translations in professional settings, which could lead to confusion and miscommunication.
The breakthrough came when we developed the Wordly Custom Glossary, allowing users to define key terms and specialized language to ensure precise and contextually accurate translations. This innovation transformed AI from a general translation tool into a truly customizable solution that could meet the needs of global businesses, conferences, and events.
Just over seven years after we launched Wordly, we surpassed four million users at the start of this year. This was a milestone I once thought unimaginable. Seeing AI achieve what I previously thought was out of reach reinforced my belief in its transformative power. It also reshaped my approach, pushing me to continually explore new ways AI can break down language barriers and create more inclusive global communication.
Talk about about a challenge you faced when working with AI. How did you overcome it, and what was the outcome?
One of the biggest challenges we faced when working with AI was ensuring real-time processing speed without sacrificing accuracy. Live translation and transcription demands near-instantaneous responses, and early versions of our solution faced latency challenges. Delays made conversations feel unnatural and frustrating for users.
To overcome this, we optimized our AI models to process speech more efficiently, leveraging advanced neural network architectures and refining our approach to handling large volumes of simultaneous translations. We also implemented edge computing techniques, reducing reliance on cloud processing to enable faster, low-latency performance.
As a result, we created a seamless real-time translation experience that keeps up with the natural flow of conversations, making Wordly a go-to solution. Our trusted AI translation platform is used by more than 2,000 organizations worldwide, helping governments, businesses, schools, churches, and international teams communicate seamlessly across language barriers. By solving this challenge, we made AI-powered translation not just possible, but practical and scalable for global use.
Can you share an example of how your work with AI has had a meaningful impact (on others, on business results, etc)? What was the situation, and what difference did it make?
One of the most impactful examples of our work with AI comes from our client Timberline Church, which used Wordly real-time AI translation to create a powerful moment of empathy and inclusion.
Located in Northern Colorado, where about 16% of the population speaks a language other than English, Timberline Church began using Wordly AI translation during services to ensure non-English speakers could fully engage in church services. Wordly helped solve the language barrier issue, but Timberline noticed that many community members still felt disconnected.
To address this, the church organized an exercise to not only bridge the language gap but also foster empathy and strengthen their community. English-speaking members participated in a portion of the sermon delivered in Spanish, forcing them to rely entirely on Wordly AI translation to follow along.
The impact was profound. It allowed the congregation to experience firsthand the challenges many immigrants face, helping them to better understand the isolation of non-English speakers, both in worship and in everyday life.
This initiative wasn’t just about technology, it was a powerful lesson in empathy and inclusion. The approach Timberline Church’s took serves as a reminder of how faith communities can heal division and build understanding. It showed how AI and language, when used with compassion, can unite us in truly transformative ways.
Based on your experience and success, can you please share “Five Things You Need To Know To Help Shape The Future of AI”?
1 . In times of crisis, inclusivity and accessibility aren’t just important, they’re essential. AI real-time translation ensures that critical information reaches everyone, not just those who speak the dominant language. As AI continues to evolve, prioritizing inclusivity in emergency response communication will be essential for protecting diverse communities worldwide.
A powerful real-world example of this was Los Angeles County’s use of Wordly AI translation technology during the recent wildfires. With real-time translation into 60+ languages, vital updates about evacuations, safety protocols, and resources were instantly accessible to all residents, ensuring those who didn’t speak English were not left uninformed.
By leveraging AI to break language barriers, LA County demonstrated how technology can save lives, foster unity, and create more resilient communities. As we shape the future of AI, ensuring seamless, inclusive communication must remain a top priority.
This is an example of AI at its best by breaking barriers, fostering unity, and even saving lives.
2 . AI Should Enable Effortless Communication — The true power of AI lies in making complex tasks simple and seamless. With AI-driven translation, Wordly eliminates the need for human interpreters, expensive equipment, and logistical challenges. By removing these barriers, AI empowers individuals and organizations to collaborate more effectively, expand their reach, and create stronger connections and solutions across cultures and industries.
A great example of how AI can enable effortless communication is from our client the City of Burlington, Vermont and their innovative use of Wordly for their Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Plus Workforce Training Program. Burlington faced two challenges: a shortage of healthcare workers, especially PCAs, and an immigrant population whose language constraints hindered them from entering the healthcare field.
To address this, Burlington used Wordly real-time AI translation during their six-week PCA training program, allowing Arabic-speaking participants to engage fully with the curriculum. The AI translation ensured that participants could learn essential caregiving skills, workplace communication, and cultural competency, all in their native language. This approach not only broke down language barriers but also helped fill critical healthcare positions, proving how AI can simplify complex tasks and make workforce development more accessible.
By leveraging AI translation, Burlington was able to empower immigrants with employable skills while also meeting the community’s urgent need for healthcare workers. This initiative highlights how AI can eliminate logistical challenges and create opportunities for collaboration across cultures and industries.
3 . Real-Time AI is Transforming Communication — AI-powered solutions, like real-time translation and captioning, are reshaping how people connect across cultures and industries. The ability to instantly understand and communicate in multiple languages will drive the next wave of global business and collaboration.
For example, at last October’s Department of Justice (DOJ) International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) Wordly helped provide real-time AI translation for attendees from 17 different countries. Nearly 200 presentations in over 60 languages made the event more inclusive for everyone. This seamless solution using Wordly helped break down language barriers, so that regardless of the language someone spoke, they could fully participate in the important discussions happening.
By enabling delegates to instantly understand and communicate across multiple languages, the DOJ not only made collaboration smoother, but also set the stage for even more international involvement in future events beyond this year’s 1,200 delegates.
4 . Continuous Innovation and Adaptation are Essential — AI is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead requires constant learning and iteration. Companies must embrace change, invest in research, and develop AI solutions that adapt to users’ needs in an ever-changing world.
At Wordly, we’re committed to continuous innovation. We’re constantly improving our translation tool to better meet the needs of our users. Last year, we added 10 new languages to our system, expanding our global reach even further. Additionally, we introduced several new features to enhance user experience, including Automatic Language Detection, which allows real-time detection of speaker languages, and Push-to-Talk Translation, making it easier to manage multilingual conversations. We also improved our support for platforms like Teams and Zoom, ensuring seamless integration for virtual meetings.
These updates reflect our dedication to making communication easier, more efficient, and inclusive for all. By continually enhancing our tool, Wordly ensures that people can collaborate effortlessly across languages, driving even greater opportunities for connection and innovation.
5 . Ethical AI Development is Non-Negotiable — AI must be built with transparency, fairness, and security in mind. Addressing bias, ensuring data privacy, and fostering trust should be fundamental in every AI-driven innovation.
At Wordly, ethical AI development is at the core of everything we do. One way we uphold this commitment is through bias reduction in AI translation. Unlike traditional translation models that can inadvertently favor dominant languages or dialects, Wordly continuously improves its system to provide accurate, context-aware translations across all supported languages.
A great example of this is how organizations from more than 60 countries use Wordly to ensure fair and equitable multilingual communication in global meetings. By removing human interpreter bias and applying secure, real-time AI translation, Wordly enables every participant, regardless of their native language, to engage fully and confidently.
Transparency, fairness, and security aren’t just checkboxes, they’re non-negotiable principles shaping AI’s future. By prioritizing ethical development, Wordly helps foster trust and inclusivity in global collaboration.
When you think about the future of AI, what excites you the most, and how do you see your work contributing to that future?
What excites me most about the future of AI is its potential to break down communication barriers and create deeper connections between people, regardless of language, culture, or location. AI’s ability to bridge these divides opens up a world of possibilities for global collaboration, understanding, and empathy.
At Wordly, our work is focused on making multilingual communication seamless, whether in business, municipalities, education, or faith-based communities. I see our work as contributing to a future where AI empowers human connection, enabling more inclusive and empathetic societies. It’s a future where everyone, no matter their background or language, can feel heard, understood, and valued.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to innovate in AI? Can you share a story from your experience that illustrates your advice?
My advice would be to stay patient, focused, and always remember that AI, at its core, is about solving real-world problems. The journey of innovation is long and filled with challenges, but persistence and a clear vision can make a huge difference.
One story from my journey to Wordly stands out. I faced many obstacles when I began working on real-time AI translation, especially around accuracy and speed. Early on, I didn’t just focus on the technology itself, I listened to our users’ needs and fine-tuned Wordly based on their feedback.
The breakthrough came when I realized that AI must be paired with empathy. Technology that doesn’t just translate words but truly understands and respects the context. This mindset helped me shape Wordly into something truly meaningful and transformative for our users.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Warren Buffett. He has built an incredible legacy while remaining deeply rooted in his principles and focused on the fundamentals of business. I may not understand business the way he does, but I would certainly love the opportunity to meet him.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work and Wordly’s journey on our social channels LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. We regularly share updates on how we’re evolving the way the world communicates through AI. You can also visit our website at Wordly.ai to learn more about our real-time translation solutions and see how we’re helping businesses and communities bridge language gaps globally.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.
Thank you for the opportunity to share our story and vision. It’s an exciting time for AI, and I’m grateful to be part of a movement that is shaping the future of communication. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you and creating a more connected, inclusive world.
Lakshman Rathnam Of Wordly AI Translation On Pushing the Boundaries of AI was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.