Amazon Unveils Upgraded Kindle Scribe and AI-Powered Translation Tool for Authors

At its annual New York event, Amazon introduced an updated lineup of its Kindle Scribe e-readers. The devices now feature a lighter and thinner design, have done away with asymmetric elements, and look more like modern tablets.

New AI-powered functions make reading even more convenient: the “Story until now” mode helps you return to a key moment in the book, while the “Ask this book” feature allows you to get reference information as you read. The devices can last up to a week on a single charge and are completely free of distracting notifications and apps.

Furthermore, Amazon is simplifying the release of e-books in multiple languages with its AI-based translator, Kindle Translate. Launched in beta, this feature allows authors who self-publish through the Kindle Store to translate their books.

Currently, Kindle Translate is available to a limited number of Kindle Direct Publishing authors. In its initial version, the tool translates from English to Spanish, as well as from German to English, at no extra cost to the authors.

Authors have the option to choose the languages, set individual prices for the translations, and review the results before publication. Amazon stated that it automatically checks all translations before they are published. Books translated using the tool will be labeled as being processed by Kindle Translate.

According to Amazon, less than 5% of the works in its store are available in multiple languages, and Kindle Translate is intended to improve this statistic. Books translated using the tool will be available for KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.