Drupal AI Ecosystem Part 3: Drupal AI Translate Module

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, delivering content that resonates across languages is no longer optional; it’s essential. The Drupal AI Translate module revolutionizes multilingual publishing by seamlessly integrating AI-powered translations into your editorial workflow.

With just a click, editors can generate accurate, context-aware translations tailored to each language and audience. Whether you're launching a global site or scaling your content strategy, Drupal AI Translate empowers teams to localize faster, smarter, and with confidence.

This article covers the Drupal AI Translate submodule: what it does, how to install and configure it, and how editors and developers can use it safely in production.

Before exploring Drupal AI Translate further, please find out how our AI knowledge can support you in successfully implementing these modules and converting your Drupal site into a smart, data-driven platform.

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Now, let’s explore Drupal AI Translate in detail!

Purpose

Drupal AI Translate seamlessly integrates with Drupal’s Content Translation system to deliver automated, high-quality translations using your chosen AI provider and model. It transforms the way multilingual content is created, making it faster, smarter, and more scalable.

Key Capabilities

1. Instant Translations: Generate one-click translations directly from Drupal’s standard Translate tab.
2. Language-Specific Customization: Select different AI models and prompts for each target language to ensure contextual accuracy.
3. Entity Reference Translation: Automatically translate referenced content with configurable depth control.
4. Drush Automation: Utilize Drush commands to execute bulk or scripted translations, facilitating streamlined workflows.

Requirements

To use Drupal AI Translate effectively, ensure the following are set up:

1. AI Core Module: Must be configured with at least one chat-capable AI provider, to set up and configure the AI provider, refer to Drupal AI Ecosystem Part 1: Setup and AI CKEditor Configuration
2. Drupal Language Setup: The content_translation module must be enabled, and target languages should be properly configured.

Let’s start with installing the Drupal AI Translate module.

drush en ai ai_translate

drush cr

Now, configure the Drupal AI Translation module to get started. 

Select the default provider and model for text translation on AI default Settings:

Path: Configuration → AI → AI Translate (/admin/config/ai/ai-translate)

Key Configuration Settings

Default Translation Behavior

1. AI Translate as Default: Replaces Drupal’s standard Translate tab with AI Translate’s enhanced workflow for a more streamlined experience.
2. Translation Status Options: Choose whether the translated content retains its original status or is saved as a draft.
3. Post-Translation Redirect: Decide whether users are redirected to the translation list or directly to the edit screen of the newly created translation.
4. Default Prompt Configuration: Uses the ai_prompt field to select prompts. A minimum rendered prompt length of 50 characters is enforced to ensure quality output.

Per-Language Customization

1. Model Selection: Assign a specific chat-capable AI model for each target language. If none is set, the system defaults to the AI Core configuration.
2. Prompt Overrides: Optionally define a custom prompt per language. If used, it must meet the 50-character minimum once rendered.

Entity Reference Translation Settings

1. Auto-Translation Defaults: Specify which referenced entity types should be automatically translated when the parent content is translated.
2. Translation Depth Control: Set how deeply referenced entities are translated—options include 1, 2, 5, 10, or Unlimited levels.

How Editors Use Drupal AI Translate

• Open any translatable entity and go to the Translate tab.
• Click the “AI Translations” link for the target language.
• The module sends the source content + configured prompt to the provider and creates the translation.

Here’s the English and Spanish versions

One of the best things about this module is that it supports Layout Translation as well. Based on the Symmetric or Asymmetric translation module, it handles both cases pretty well.

Drush Usage

The Drupal AI Translate module provides a Drush command as well to translate the content or text itself.

Translate entities:

drush ai:translate-entity node 16,18,21 en fr

1. Parameters: entityType, entityIds (comma‑separated), langFrom, langTo 
2. Behavior: Extracts field text, translates per field/column, creates the new translation, and saves.

Translate ad‑hoc text: 

drush ai:translate-text "Hello world" en fr

Drupal AI Translate is more than just a convenience; it’s a powerful enhancement to Drupal’s multilingual capabilities. By integrating configurable AI-driven translations directly into the editorial workflow, it empowers site builders, editors, and developers to deliver localized content faster and more accurately. With support for layout translation, entity depth control, and Drush automation, it’s ready for production use in complex environments. 

Whether you're building a multilingual site from scratch or optimizing an existing one, Drupal AI Translate offers the flexibility and control needed to scale content translation intelligently. As AI models evolve, so too will the possibilities for seamless, context-aware localization.

Ready to take your Drupal translations to the next level?

Dive into Drupal AI Translate and experience the future of content internationalization.

Also Check Out

1. Drupal AI Ecosystem Part 1: Setup and AI CKEditor Configuration
2. Drupal AI Ecosystem Part 2: AI Logging, Observability, & API Explorer
3. Transform Your Website with Drupal AI Module in 2025
4. Create and Integrate: CKEditor 5 Plugin in Drupal 11

Key Takeaways

1. Drupal AI Translate works seamlessly with Drupal's built-in Content Translation system, introducing AI-driven localization into a well-known editorial process.
2. Editors can create translations with a single click that are aware of context, allowing for customization of prompts and AI models for each language.
3. Entity reference translation and depth control help maintain consistency across related content, including pages driven by layout.
4. Drush support allows for bulk and automated translation processes, making it suitable for large-scale multilingual websites.
5. Built for real-world production settings, Drupal AI Translate enables teams to localize more quickly, intelligently, and confidently while keeping editorial control.