BLUF

In demonstrating the importance of voice recognition technology allied to Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft is buying Nuance, a voice recognition company.

Summary

Microsoft is buying Nuance, a company known for its widely-used speech recognition software such as Dragon and Apple's Siri; both Dragon and Siri use an AI to help turn speech into text. Nuance also has a significant market in providing medical professionals with speech recognition software. Microsoft was particularly interested in Nuances medical speech software. Nuance has created an extensive medical terminology database and can turn a medical professional's speech into text with a high degree of accuracy. Other Nuance applications include:

  • Telehealth appointments on Microsoft Teams.
  • Conversations between financial advisers and their clients.
  • Authentication of voices to unlock online accounts.
  • Chatbot services for telecommunications firms and other sectors.

Worth noting that we all have a unique voiceprint which is much like a fingerprint. Speech recognition technology allows government departments and other organisations to be more efficient and has potential security and account management implications.

Microsoft is buying Nuance, speech recognition firm behind Siri, in $20 billion deal

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