As English dominates the online world, what does the future hold for the Latvian language? From AI to gaming, we investigate the fight for its digital survival.

Will our grandchildren speak Latvian with their smart devices?

This is not a hypothetical question. In the vast, English-dominated expanse of the digital world, small languages like Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian face an existential challenge. The pressure is twofold: from the top down, as global tech giants are slow to support them, and from the bottom up, as younger generations naturally absorb English tech jargon.

The challenges are real. While major languages enjoy sophisticated AI tools, high-quality automatic translation, and responsive voice assistants, the development of such resources for Latvian is a costly and complex endeavor. Without them, the language risks being pushed to the margins of the digital sphere, reserved for home and tradition but absent from the technologies of the future.

However, a quiet revolution is underway. Language specialists are tirelessly creating modern terminology for concepts like “firewall” (ugunsmūris) or “streaming” (straumēšana). Researchers are working on improving Latvian language models for AI, ensuring that voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri can one day understand the nuances of Latvian grammar and diction.

The battle is also being fought on the cultural front. There’s a growing push to localize popular video games and encourage Latvian influencers and coders to use their native language online. This creates a vibrant, modern digital environment where Latvian isn’t just a relic of the past, but a living tool for the present.

The path forward requires conscious effort—from policymakers funding tech development to each of us choosing to use Latvian in a tweet or a blog comment. The goal is not to reject English, but to ensure that Latvian has its own, unshakeable place in the digital future. The question isn’t just whether the technology can handle Latvian, but whether we will demand it.

And perhaps the most beautiful way to contribute is to start learning this ancient and melodic language yourself, becoming a part of its vibrant future. The way starts here: Latvian language courses.

Latvian Translation Services in Latvia | Baltic Translation Company