Google's new AJAX...Compiler or Interpreter?

Taking Java/AJAX to the next lower level?

Google has taken Java programmers to the next level...down.

Google has released their Google Web Toolkit (GWT) for developers to design their own AJAX applications...using Java.

Now, I may be reading this wrong, but according to their blog post:

With GWT, you can develop and debug your own AJAX applications in Java code using the Java development tools of your choice. When you deploy your application to production, the GWT compiler simply translates your Java application to browser-compliant JavaScript and HTML.

Anyone catch that last part? "Translates your Java application to browser-compliant JavaScript and HTML?" Hmm...Does this mean I need to pick up Java now?

I'm wondering if there are any Java developers (or web developers for that matter) who think that this may be a little too extreme to write a thin Java application for the client and then translate it to an annorexic JavaScript-enabled web application. :-)

Give me your opinions below with the Chatterbox.