Meet Chameleon:



Transforming the Face of Sign Language Bible Translation

Chameleon — used by Wycliffe in collaboration with partner organizations Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Mission, Pioneer Bible Translators and Wycliffe Australia — is a cutting-edge software program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and motion capture technology in sign language Bible translation.

Today, there are more than 380 known sign languages around the world representing 70 million signers. Of this population, only 2% have encountered Jesus in a language and format they clearly understand.

In 2020, after nearly 20 years of work, the American Sign Language Version (ASLV) of the Bible was completed!* Completed by Deaf Missions and partner organizations, the ASLV was the first full sign language Bible.

*This is based on the translation standards established by the Forum of Bible Agencies International. The American Sign Language Bible was completed by Deaf Missions in collaboration with partners like American Bible Society, Seed Company, DOOR International, Deaf Bible Society, Pioneer Bible Translators and Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.



Deaf communities represent one of the top five Bible translation priorities for Wycliffe and our partners.

Chameleon is enabling fast, accurate sign language Bible translation for Deaf communities all over the world!

Chameleon uses AI and motion capture technology in sign language Bible translation.



Designed specifically for sign languages, Chameleon is changing how the world delivers resources to the global Deaf community by addressing their unique communication needs.

This is one of the many ways AI has revolutionized Scripture translation.

To produce sign language Scripture videos, actors must be filmed signing passages from multiple angles, using multiple cameras.

Chameleon is an innovative markerless system that uses AI to facilitate accurate sign language recognition and translation. There’s no need for a green screen or special motion capture suit, enabling the signer to sign naturally.

The system tracks and captures live signing, then transfers the language to lifelike avatars.

Showing signers’ faces on film is dangerous in some areas of the world. But just like real chameleons change their appearance, Chameleon technology allows sign language translators to alter their appearances! This allows them to safely communicate God’s Word.

A real person signs, Chameleon captures their movements and then converts their appearance through the use of avatars. This effectively protects the translator’s identity while delivering Scripture to Deaf people in locations all over the world.

Just like real chameleons change their appearance, Chameleon technology allows sign language translators to alter their appearances!

Translators can opt to use multiple ethnicities, customizable environments and even 3D biblical characters, creating visually engaging Scripture content and settings for Deaf communities worldwide.

In addition, one signer may select multiple avatars, enhancing content editing and flexibility.

Meet Deaf Bible translator Adan Burke



Adan, a sign language partnership facilitator, noted:

“Groundbreaking for the global Deaf community, Chameleon is digital, changeable and protects the translator’s identity. Since the invention of sign language, people have been signing to one another in the Deaf community. Unfortunately, in the work of sign language Bible translation, the person presenting the sign language is automatically associated with the Scripture they are depicting.



Using an avatar removes connection to the individual and instead highlights the message. This removes the risk that a signer’s lifestyle, choices or beliefs could ever compromise, and therefore devalue, the Bible’s message. No human is visibly attached to the Scripture verse.”

New Possibilities



For years, I have worked as a signer in sign language Bible translation. People know me as the ‘Jesus guy’ or the guy who signs for Jesus. In fact, the Good Friday passage is one of the most viewed ASL Scripture, and I’m the Jesus guy telling the story of His crucifixion and resurrection. But my goal is for viewers to focus on what the Bible is saying, not on me. Chameleon offers that.”

This innovative Bible translation technology not only opens up new possibilities for Deaf communities — it dramatically accelerates the work!


Wycliffe has been using AI in Bible translation since 2013. Using AI-assisted drafting, translation teams have reported dramatic acceleration of the work — some up to 50% faster!

In Bible translation work, AI can act as a helpful co-pilot. It helps translators create initial rough drafts, streamlining the early drafting process. And it learns from materials it has already translated, which enables it to make suggestions for future work. Over time, it even mimics the translators’ voice, tone and writing style. 



Bible translation is a daunting task:. One person translating the New Testament from scratch can take roughly five years to complete. Consider how much longer it takes to translate the Old Testament without technological innovations like AI!

AI can make translation easier for high-resourced, well-documented languages. It can also be used for languages without written documentation.

For instance, translators in Indonesia are using a mobile app to assist with future translation work. Multilingual speakers are helping to develop the app’s information database by translating phrases into low-resourced languages that don’t yet have Bible translations. In the future, when a translation team begins work on one of these languages, these phrases can be used to train AI models for efficient text translation.

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Innovations such as Starlink, Render, custom software development, Chameleon and AI are enhancing, enabling and accelerating Bible translation projects worldwide.

While many brilliant people have had a hand in this work, it’s important to remember that these advances could never be solely orchestrated by humans.

God gives His people the skills, desires and expertise to develop technology so that it can be used for His glory!

Praise God that these technologies are helping more people around the world clearly and fully understand His love for them in their language!