In a world increasingly defined by algorithms, cloud infrastructure, and seamless user interfaces, there is one truth we tend to forget: none of it matters if people can’t understand the language.
While we talk about AI-driven personalisation, 5G inclusion, and the creator economy, the most overlooked and ironically most human element of digital access is language. For billions of people, particularly in emerging economies, the digital revolution is happening in a language they do not speak. This is the silent exclusion.
We often assume that once a user has a smartphone and data access, the problem of the digital divide is solved. But digital availability is not the same as digital usability. And that’s where language becomes the invisible moat.
The counterintuitive truth
Here’s the paradox. In today’s global economy, the more dominant a language is economically, the less marginal value each new piece of content in that language generates.
For instance, adding one more AI-generated English tutorial or marketing video barely moves the needle. But creating the first-ever AI-narrated science explainer in Santali or Bhojpuri can change a region’s literacy outcomes.
Why the next billion matters, linguistically
India, like much of the Global South, is a country where language diversity isn’t a footnote; it’s the operating system. With over 122 major languages and 1,600 dialects, linguistic identity shapes culture, behaviour, and even trust.
A government video in Hindi may check the “national language” box, but unless it’s in Meitei or Gondi in the Northeast or Chhattisgarhi in the heartland, it may remain unheard of or worse, distrusted.
Some vernacular versions of digital content have been found to perform 4 to 5 times better in engagement and completion rates. The reason? Language. It’s a proxy for credibility. It signals: “This was made for me.”
The illusion of scale in English
Global platforms often prioritise content in high GDP languages, such as English, Japanese, German, and Mandarin, because of immediate monetisation opportunities. But this creates a long-tail vacuum in the very regions where digital transformation is needed most.
Ironically, by focusing only on “economically powerful” languages, we risk creating economic stagnation in developing regions. It’s the equivalent of planting seeds only in fertile soil while ignoring arid land that could bloom with a bit of effort.
The future lies in enabling local creators to produce high-quality content in their native languages, not just to preserve culture, but to create jobs, expand the content economy, and drive digital literacy at scale.
The job multiplier effect of language inclusion
Here’s what most people don’t realise: when we invest in local languages, we’re not just making information easier to access, we’re creating real jobs.
Bringing a language online opens up opportunities for content creators, translators, dubbing artists, voice actors, language teachers, editors, scriptwriters, voice coaches, subtitling professionals, cultural consultants, project managers, quality reviewers, educators, and even brand and marketing agencies that specialise in regional outreach.
This isn’t charity. It’s a smart development. Just like building roads helps new businesses grow, building strong local language systems helps entire industries take root in areas where good jobs are hard to come by.
AI, translation, and the role of human context
Yes, AI can now clone voices and translate text at record speed. But without cultural accuracy and emotional nuance, automation becomes alienation.
A dubbed video in Tamil shouldn’t just sound like Tamil; it should feel like Tamil. The intonations, cultural references, and pauses matter. Language, after all, is not just sound. It’s soul.
What governments and platforms must do
Governments need to treat language inclusion as a public good, akin to electricity or clean water. Policies must mandate local language availability in e-governance, education, and public service platforms.
Tech companies and streaming giants must go beyond checkboxes and invest in building robust, sustainable local language pipelines not just for compliance but for community.
And individuals, especially urban bilinguals, must take responsibility too. By consuming and sharing content in local languages, we expand the algorithmic universe for others. You’re not just liking a post; you’re validating a language. You’re giving it digital oxygen.
A call to action
To parents: teach your children at least one regional language deeply.
To creators: tell your stories in your language. It matters more than you think.
To policymakers: make local language access mandatory, not optional.
To entrepreneurs: the next frontier of scale lies in building for the non-English world.
The real power of the internet was always about decentralisation. Let’s not re-centralise it into a handful of dominant tongues. Let us make the internet truly multilingual, not just technically, but meaningfully.
Rian founder Anand Shiralkar
Because if we lose our languages, we don’t just lose words. We lose wisdom. We lose our livelihoods. We lose the chance to be seen and heard on our own terms. And inclusion, at its core, begins with the dignity of being understood.
The writer is the founder of Rian, a multilingual AI-human localisation company focused on video and document translation.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
