AI opens a new world for sign language translation

Caio Cascaes of DOOR International

During his sign-language presentation at the 2025 Missional AI Summit, Caio Cascaes of DOOR International showed three examples of how AI is expected to accelerate Bible translation for hundreds of sign languages.

Chameleon

Chameleon is already available and being deployed. Previous sign-language videos required the human signer to wear marking sensors for the camera to track motion. Chameleon can capture human signing with multiple cameras and without the need for those markers. Then, it can create avatars – AI-generated figures that can vary by physical appearance, age, gender, background and even signing styles. Along with producing avatars that match the audience, this also protects the human signer’s identity if security is an issue.

The initiative represents a balance, Cascaes signed, ‘still keeping to the truth and integrity of God’s Word but doing it in a way that’s most relevant for the current demographics and the people we’re serving.’

A sign language translator works on the Old Testament book of Ruth for Chameleon.

Lava

Lava is under development by SIL. It’s a video and optimisation tool that is language agnostic – meaning its underlying code can be used to translate any sign language.

In the example video Cascaes showed, a .png photo of an East Asian man was uploaded to Lava, which animated the man’s likeness into a sign-language video. Then, for another community, a different .png photo could be used to animate another video using the same sign motions.

‘It has been such an incredible benefit’, Cascaes signed. ‘This technology can be leveraged in countries that are incredibly sensitive where the signing talent, if their identities were known, would be a life-threatening situation.

‘And so in an effort to preserve them, of course, and to preserve the integrity of God’s Word, we now have the ability, leveraging this technology, to make it so that their identities can be totally obfuscated and they and their families can be kept safe.’

Avodah Connect

Finally, Avodah Connect is developing technology that can search and replace specific signs used by an avatar in a video. A translation team may want to use, or not use, a specific sign not present in the original video. This technology will keep them from having to re-record entire videos.

‘This sign language searchability is going to be able to save so much time, so much energy, and accelerate the process of being able to swap out certain signs and make it more applicable and match the type of work you’re trying to do for the audience you’re trying to serve’, Cascaes signed.

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Watch the entire presentation here. 

Separate session video: Avodah Connect

Story: Jim Killam, Wycliffe Global Alliance

Story translated with ChatGPT. How was the translation accuracy? Let us know at info@wycliffe.net

Alliance organisations are welcome to download and use images from this series.