Russian Video Platform Launches Automatic Subtitle Generation
A New Homegrown Speech-Recognition System Converts Audio to Text in Real Time
RuTube, Russia’s largest video-hosting platform, has rolled out automatic subtitle generation for user-created content. The feature is powered by a domestically developed speech-recognition technology capable of handling a wide range of accents and speech patterns. The system not only improves accessibility for viewers with hearing impairments and enables silent viewing, but also helps enhance content moderation and tagging across the platform.
Subtitles Turn On Automatically
Channels with at least 200 views, 40 subscribers, and 10 hours of total watch time will now receive automatically generated subtitles by default for all new videos featuring recognizable speech. Existing videos can also have subtitles added retroactively. RuTube has begun processing its vast video archive, starting with the platform’s most popular creators.
Previously, only federal channels could add subtitles — and the process required manual transcription. Now, automation has made the tool accessible to a much wider range of users.
RuTube’s decision to make this feature a default standard, rather than an optional add-on, signals a more user-centric strategy — one that focuses on practical improvements for both creators and audiences, while advancing Russia’s efforts to develop independent digital infrastructure.
