Google is one of the staunchest supporters, rather the promoters of AI in today’s tech world. Despite all the reservations and concerns raised by the tech entrepreneurs, Google does not seem to be stopping anywhere to leverage the power of artificial intelligence. It strongly believes in AI to be the next-gen technology. That is why it is willing to take up new experiment each day to present something interesting to the tech-freaks around the world.
We have previously seen Google Assistant as an AI-based app that is ready to serve as a personal assistant. Now, Google Cloud Speech-to-text AI tool is just another example of how Google utilizes the efficiency of machine learning and AI to come up with superior products. These tools are not only beneficial for a person’s individual needs, but also suffice the corporate requirements, or the businesses on the whole. Considering the smart predictive features of Google Cloud Speech to text, we can expect it turn out to be a useful business tool in the days to come.
Google Text To Speech API – What Is It?
Google text to speech is a futuristic tool by Google that has been aiding our lives for quite some time. This robust tool allows the user to generate high quality natural sounding speeches.
This was introduced by Google as an API. However, when the demand for this tool grew more, and people became significantly interested in integrating this API within their apps, Google decided to launch its cloud-based version. Thus, Google Cloud text-to-speech came into being.
Google Cloud text to speech offers various functionalities that make it desirable for developers. For instance, it has got the following features driven by artificial intelligence.
- Power voice response system makes it useful for call centers. This is in line with certain other dedicated AI-driven call center apps such as RosponseAI.
- Enables the IoT devices to communicate with the users.
- Generates robust voice speeches from text-based files.
Google Speech To Text API – The Legacy Continues
After launching Cloud text-to-speech in March, Google decided not to take a break. It is taking every measure to leverage artificial intelligence at its best.
On April 9, 2018, Google announced the launch of another robust AI tool that has the ability to convert speech to text. This time, it is the Google Cloud Speech-to-Text tool.
Formerly, it was known as the Cloud Speech API by Google. But, after being jazzed up with some latest features, Google changed its name, calling it simply as the Cloud Speech-to-Text.
The original Cloud Speech API was revealed in 2016 and has since then being used by the customers globally. Speech to text has been a fantastic feature by Google for both the PCs as well as the Android. In fact, Google speech to text for PC has served as an excellent dictation tool that makes it easier to make notes by the users.
Latest Updates In Google Cloud Speech-To-Text AI
Adding more to its powerful AI tools, Google now seems on the verge of upgrading its products to a business level. Last week, Google announced a few recent updates in its speech to text software. These updates will certainly enhance the robustness of this product.
Dan Aharon, Google Cloud AI Product Manager, revealed the news of these updates via a blog post. In his post, he has explained in detail about the newly added features – phone and video call transcription. Besides, it has also introduced some robust features, such as automatic punctuation and tagging, which make it suitable for the requirements of businesspersons.
These updates are available as new models bearing specialized features. The users can choose their desired model, which meets their requirements.
Enhanced Phone Call And Video Transcription
The most noticeable update is the Google transcribe voice to text feature that has become even more powerful as it endeavors to decipher audio and video calls.
It means that the Google Speech to text now comes with an advanced voice recognition technology, by using which the customers would be able to get their phone calls transcribed in a jiffy. While the app will also transcribe the audio from the video media. This is in addition to what the customers can usually do with a speech to text Google apps, such as speech analytics and voice commands.
For this purpose, the “enhanced phone_call” model has been developed which is among the first opt-in programs for data logging in the industry. According to Aharon, this model is thankfully developed by using the data obtained from the users who voluntarily shared their usage details with Google Cloud Speech-to-text for the purpose of model enhancements.
With this update, the previous “basic phone-call” model has been upgraded to the “enhanced phone_call” model with 54% lesser errors.
In addition to the model designed for transcribing phone calls, the other Google Cloud Speech API example is a separate model designated for videos. This “video” model, as the name shows, works best for videos, as well as for sounds generating from multiple speakers. It ideally records audio at a 16KHz or higher sampling rate. This model leverages the power of machine learning in a manner similar to YouTube captioning. Hence, it features a 64% lesser ratio of errors as compared to the default model.
At present, these updated voice transcription features are available in US English only. But, we can expect the feature to be available in other languages shortly. A big plus for the moment is that the customers are not bound to upgrade their apps. Dan Aharon says, “We also continue to offer our existing models for voice command and search, as well as our default model, for long-form transcription.”
Smart Google Dictation With Automatic Punctuation
Although voice transcription is a trickier thing, it becomes even more difficult when the transcription needs to be done with punctuations. Aharon shares his experience how the team decided to go for automatic punctuation features. He says, “Most of us learn how to use basic punctuation… by the time we leave grade school. But, properly punctuating [a] transcribed speech is hard to do… We learned just how hard it can be from our early attempts at transcribing voicemail messages, which produced run-on sentences that were notoriously hard to read”.
He explains that the Google team has developed an LSTM (long short-term memory) neural network for enhancing punctuations during transcriptions. This smart Google voice to text model is available as the beta and can suggest commas, periods and question marks within the text. This model is certainly helpful for direct transcriptions during calls, or while taking notes from conference calls.
Recognition Metadata For Specifying Use Cases
The next big thing with the Google Cloud Speech to text is something we could ever imagine with this robust tech giant. It enables its users to tag and group your transcription workloads with recognition metadata. For instance, you can tag your transcribed files as “shopping apps” or “basketballs shows” for easy classification.
Though Google collects this information across the Cloud Speech to Text users to set its priorities for next working, the feature is purely optional and the customers can choose not to share this with Google.
Usual Google Cloud Speech-To-Text Features
If you are wondering what exceptional features does Google Speech to Text offers, then here we quickly review its details. You can surely find them in line with your business requirements.
Efficient Voice Recognition Software
Google Cloud Speech to Text is an excellent voice recognition app that is powered by dynamic neural network models integrated into an easy to use API. This Speech to text API is able to recognize over hundred languages and their variants for effective support to the users globally.
With handy tool, you can transcribe your audios on the go, can use the command_and_control model, and can do much more. With its efficient machine learning technology, this Google tool can process your audios in real-time streaming or can transcribe pre-recorded versions.
Robust Machine Learning Ability
The advanced AI and machine learning neural network algorithms make this Google voice typing features highly accurate. Moreover, as Google improves its internal speech recognition technology, this cloud-based AI tool will also become more efficient in performance.
Resourceful Recognition for More Than 120 Languages
The Google Cloud Speech to Text imparts exceptional voice recognition performance by recognizing over 120 languages and variants. This powerful language recognition makes this tool useful for the customers across the world.
Filtering Inappropriate Content
As always, Google takes care in delivering spam and slang-free services to its customers in its speech recognition software as well. This robust tool, with recognition more than a hundred languages, ensures filtering out inappropriate content. Hence, you do not have to be conscious about the accidental transcription of any slang, vulgar or inappropriate words.
Word Prediction/Hints
Besides content filtering and language recognition, this robust speech to text Google tool is also powered by word hint ability. You can customize it by adding custom words in it according to the context. Hence, it can work appropriately by predicting appropriate words in different use cases.
Equal Transcription Of Audios In Real-Time
Besides useful transcription of prerecorded audio files, this app can also transcribe all short and long-form audios in real-time as well. It analyzes the stream in real-time and brings immediate text results from the streaming audio. This tool supports multiple audio encoding including AMR, PCMU, FLAC, and Linear-16.
It means you can leverage this voice recognition app right in the middle of phone calls or speeches, and get transcribed text right away.
Context-Specific Formatting With Nouns Recognition
Just as the Google’s search engine prediction is efficient for predicting context-specific words and nouns, the Cloud Speech to Text app is also robust enough to ensure efficient recognition by envisaging appropriate words and nouns.
You can customize this app accordingly to make it efficiently predict proper nouns, names and can format the text according to the language. Interestingly, Google recognized 10x more nouns as compared to what the entire Oxford Dictionary can acknowledge.
Handles Noisy Environments
Now you do not have to face problems while transcribing due to excess sounds or noisy environments. The Google Speech to Text API is smart enough to handle such noisy audios with effective voice recognition, without the need for additional tools for noise cancellations.
Choice Of Customizable Pre-Built Models For Download
Google offers Speech to text models so that the customers can download any one of these according to their requirements. For instance, customers can download the audio transcription model and can customize it accordingly for effective language recognition. Or, they can download the video model if they specifically need to transcribe videos. These models are available in pre-built forms and can be downloaded at any time. You may then tailor them accordingly to match your vocabulary and context for efficient transcription.
Free Demo Available For Trial
A complete Google Cloud Speech API demo is available for free at the official website so that anyone who is dubious about the updates or is eager to know more, can see how this app performs in real-time.
For more details, you can refer the Google Cloud Speech API Documentation offered by Google. Here you would find comprehensive guides and how to’s to enable the users to get maximum advantage from this service.
Wrapping It All
Google Cloud Speech to Text is undoubtedly a robust voice recognition software that is powered by the intelligence of machine learning and AI. The latest updates with powerful audio recognition abilities for phone calls and video transcription make this app a must-have for everyone. Notably, this tool in various ways will undoubtedly benefit the corporate sector. Owing to its smart, tailored, real-time transcription features, it works exceptionally well when it comes to taking notes quickly during meetings or via phone calls. You can even use this for conferences since it can handle noisy audios. Thus, regardless of where you are, if you are in need to convert speech to text, then Google Cloud Speech-to-text remains the ultimate option for you.