poly
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Real-time AIConversation Translation

GermanSie sind hier sicher.

UkrainianВи тут у безпеці.

Meet poly

The Swiss alternative to Google Translate, ChatGPT, Vasco and Pocketalk.

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How Poly comparesto apps, devices and interpreters

Built for institutions that need affordable translation, and conversations that never leave Switzerland.

  • poly

    • Yes:Available instantly, around the clock
    • Yes:Conversations aren’t stored
    • Yes:Processed in Switzerland
    • Yes:Affordable for everyday conversations
    • Yes:Not used for model training

  • Google Translate / ChatGPT

    • Yes:Available instantly, around the clock
    • No:Conversations aren’t stored
    • No:Processed in Switzerland
    • Yes:Affordable for everyday conversations
    • No:Not used for model training

  • Vasco / Pocketalk

    • Yes:Available instantly, around the clock
    • No:Conversations aren’t stored
    • No:Processed in Switzerland
    • Yes:Affordable for everyday conversations
    • Not publicly stated:Not used for model training

  • Interpreter

    • No:Available instantly, around the clock
    • Yes:Conversations aren’t stored
    • Yes:Processed in Switzerland
    • No:Affordable for everyday conversations
    • Yes:Not used for model training
  • Yes
  • No
  • Not publicly stated

How it stays in Switzerland

Every step runs in Swiss data centres, hosted by a Swiss company with no US parent. No code path calls an outside service.

Poly on an iPhone: a German–Ukrainian conversation, each line shown in both languages
AudioText + speechEncrypted connection

Our servers in Switzerland

  1. 01Speech recognition
  2. 02Translation
  3. 03Speech synthesis

  • 100% Switzerland

    Processed only in Swiss data centres.

  • No storage

    Audio and text are kept in memory only.

  • 0 external APIs

    Nothing goes to OpenAI, Google or DeepL.

  • Self-hosted

    Open-source models on our own GPU.

38 languages today76 more on the way

Every pair works in both directions. We measure quality and publish it here, with its date, as it lands. No numbers yet.

  • Armenian
  • Basque
  • Bengali
  • Bulgarian
  • Catalan
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hindi
  • Hungarian
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Kazakh
  • Korean
  • Luxembourgish
  • Malayalam
  • Marathi
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Telugu
  • Turkish
  • Ukrainian
  • Urdu
  • Vietnamese
  • Welsh

Independent researchBuilt in Zürich

Poly is an independent Swiss AI research initiative, built and run by AI researcher Jonathan Gosteli.

  • Built in-house

    Everything from the app to the server is built and run in-house, rather than relying on third-party services.

  • With partner institutions

    The poly translation app is currently being piloted with a small number of partner institutions.

  • An association

    Poly is an independent association, founded to advance scientific research in AI.

FAQ

Each person speaks in their own language. Poly translates what they say in real time, shows the translation as text and reads it aloud. Both languages stay on screen, so everyone can check what was said.

38 languages today, in every direction, and 76 more are on the way. We measure translation quality and will publish the results here as they come in.

Every step runs in Swiss data centres, hosted by a Swiss company with no US parent. Audio and text are kept in memory only and are gone when the conversation ends. Nothing is sent to OpenAI, Google or DeepL, and nothing is used for model training.

Poly is built for the everyday conversations where teams reach for Google Translate, Vasco or Pocketalk today: at any hour, without booking anyone, and without data leaving Switzerland. As poly evolves, it will take on more and more of the conversations that currently need an interpreter. For complex or high-stakes conversations, we still recommend working with a professional interpreter.

An iPhone with the poly app and an internet connection. An iPad version of the app is currently being built.

For now, poly works with a small number of selected institutions, and we cover all costs ourselves: participating institutions are not charged.

Scroll down to “Bring poly to your institution” and leave your email. We’ll get back to you with the next steps.

Of course, we’re happy to help. Just write to us at and we’ll get back to you.

Bring polyto your institution

Poly works with a small number of selected institutions in Switzerland. If yours could benefit, leave your email and we'll get back to you.