Apple Acquires Speech Technology Startup VocalIQ

[MacRumors]

Apple has purchased VocalIQ, a startup located in the United Kingdom that has developed a natural language API to allow computers and people to have a more natural dialogue, reports Financial Times. According to VocalIQ's website, the company has developed a self-learning dialogue API built on 10 years of natural language research, belief tracking, decision making, and message generation.

It's not always clear how Apple uses the technology from companies that it purchases, but with this acquisition, it's likely Apple will use the API to improve its voice-based personal assistant, Siri. Financial Times also believes Apple could use the technology for its upcoming car project, as VocalIQ specialized in in-car applications among other things.

While VocalIQ's speech processing and machine learning technology could be incorporated into devices from wearables to the connected home, the company was particularly focused on in-car applications. This included a collaboration with General Motors.

In a blog earlier this year, VocalIQ described how a "conversational voice-dialog system" in a car's navigation system could prevent drivers from becoming distracted by looking at screens. Its "self- learning" technology allows "real conversation between human and the internet of things", VocalIQ wrote.

VocalIQ has criticized Siri in a past blog post, calling the virtual assistant a "toy" unable to understand context. The difference between VocalIQ's system and traditional speech-recognition services like Siri and Cortana is its ability to learn.

The reason for this state of affairs is that while Apple, Google and the some others have mastered how the use machine learning for speech-recognition, they are still stuck with medieval approach when it comes of conversational voice dialog. They are still using pre-programmed flow-chart based response that don't learn.

The consumer demand for a self-learning multi-domain conversational voice system where consumers can freely talk about movies, restaurants, music, hotel bookings and the meaning of life, is huge and undeniable. The first one to meet that demand will rule the smartphone and wearables market for the next decade.

Apple confirmed its purchase of VocalIQ with its usual statement: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Article Link: Apple Acquires Speech Technology Startup VocalIQ

 

[bpeeps]

I just want Siri to tighten the gap between Cortana and Google in accordance to queries answered without resorting to a web search.

 

[Sirious]

Yay, Apple bought something in the UK for the first time

 

[AngerDanger]

According to VocalIQ's website, the company has developed a self-learning dialogue API built on 10 years of natural language research, belief tracking, decision making, and message generation.

Yeah, good luck keeping up; I've gone through, like, five religions in the past couple of hours.

 

[Eduardo1971]

Any info on the cost to purchase the company?

 

[riverfreak]

Well, I hope their technology is stronger than their grammar.

 

[naeS1Sean]

Awesome! I love seeing technology moving forward. Every new step I wonder how we were satisfied with the previous one. lol

 

[MacsRgr8]

If you can't beat them, buy them.

 

[lukelook]

Yay, Apple bought something in the UK for the first time

Actually this is its third U.K. acquisition.

 

[AppStoreNerd]

I just want Siri to tighten the gap between Cortana and Google in accordance to queries answered without resorting to a web search.

dont worry about Cortana. it is still way behind Siri but all siri has to beat is google which is way ahead of the competition

 

[Popeye206]

It would be nice to see Apple take the lead in this area.... Siri has gotten better, but more is needed for sure.

BTW... I noticed when I upgraded to iOS9, Siri got stupider... she kept hearing me wrong and speech to text was horrid... but the more I use it, the more accurate Siri is and so is text to speech

 

[_Refurbished_]

Siri, did Apple buy new voice intelligence?
- "I'm sorry, it looks like I've lost my internet connection."

Siri are you being upgraded?
- "I'm sorry, I didn't find anything on "Are you being upgraded?". Would you like for me to search the web for you?

No, just no.

 

[Rogifan]

Interesting. Btw, according to MG Siegler Apple's car project is the worst kept secret in the Valley and they've got more people working on it than almost all the startups in the Valley right now.

 

[FurryOne]

Yay, Apple bought something in the UK for the first time

Oh great!... Now I'm going to have to say AL-U-MIN-E-UM instead of Aluminum.

 

[Chatter]

Key word for me - contextual.
I like Siri but contextual follow ups with her(it?) are bad.

 

[AtheistP3ace]

I want to like Siri. I don't dislike Siri. I wish I used it more. I just don't. But I always get excited to hear about updates to it.

 

[dannys1]

Oh great!... Now I'm going to have to say AL-U-MIN-E-UM instead of Aluminum.

What instead of incorrectly like "ALOOOO-MIN-UMM"

 

[JAT]

I have no interest in conversations with my phone. I barely have interest in conversation via my phone.

But you kids have a blast.

 

[JHUFrank]

I want to like Siri. I don't dislike Siri. I wish I used it more. I just don't. But I always get excited to hear about updates to it.

Oh, I dislike Siri. Freely admit it. Long ago was using Apple Voice recognition on older computers and it worked quite nicely. Amazed they haven't kept up.

 

[rdlink]

Yay, Apple bought something in the UK for the first time

Oh great. Now we'll have to start calling elevators lifts, hoods bonnets, trunks boots, chips crisps, fries chips and cookies biscuits. Bollocks!!

 

[curtisjacob]

Fingers crossed for a OS1 Reality like in the Movie HER... Talk nerdy to me Samantha!

 

[Izauze]

The ideas are nice n all, but oof on all those spelling/grammar errors!

 

[prasand]

Fingers crossed for a OS1 Reality like in the Movie HER... Talk nerdy to me Samantha!

* iOS X

 

[curtisjacob]

* iOS X

*OS1

 

[prasand]

*OS1

I understood the movie reference / addressing. I guess you didn't understand my reply.