Translating Documents with the General Assistant

The General Assistant can translate documents into other languages while preserving their original structure and formatting. This is useful when you need to work with documents across languages without manual rewriting. This article explains how document translation works and how to use it effectively.

Written By Kristė Vagnerytė

Last updated 6 days ago

What You Can Translate

You can translate:

  • Word documents

  • PDFs

  • Presentations

  • Spreadsheets

During translation, the original document structure—such as headings, tables, and lists—is preserved.

How to Translate a Document

To translate a document:

  1. Upload the file using the attachment icon in the chat

  2. Ask the assistant to translate the document and specify the target language

    • For example:

      Translate this document to English.

  3. Review the translation estimate and choose the preferred translation model (for example, a standard option or a higher-quality option at a different price)

  4. Confirm to receive the translated document

The translated version is returned as a new document.

Translation Estimates

Before translation begins, you receive an estimate and can select the preferred translation model.

The estimate allows you to:

• Review the expected cost for each available model

• Choose between different translation quality and pricing options

• Decide whether to proceed

• Avoid unexpected usage

Translation starts only after you confirm your selected model and the estimate.

💡 Cost Transparency: Translation costs are the same AWS variable costs you see after every AI query. For large documents (hundreds of pages), costs can range from tens of cents to over a euro, so the estimate helps you make informed decisions.

Preserving Formatting

When translating documents:

  • Headings, tables, and lists are preserved

  • The document layout remains intact

  • The translated file is ready for further use

This makes translation suitable for business documents, reports, and presentations.

Example: Translating a Document

Example request:

Translate this document to German.

After confirmation, the assistant returns a translated version of the document with the original structure preserved.

Best Practices for Translation

  • Upload clean, readable files for best results

  • Specify the exact target language

  • Review the translated document before sharing

  • Use a new chat when translating a different document

These practices help ensure accurate and reliable translations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting to specify the target language

  • Expecting translation without confirming the estimate

  • Mixing translation tasks with unrelated requests

Avoiding these issues improves translation quality and flow.

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