Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a process used by computers which allows them to communicate through human language. When a person talks to a computer, the computer takes the input and uses algorithms to determine what answer it should output. NLP is used for many things, for example, it is used in translation programs and in call centers. Programs like Siri and Google Home, that are made to act as personal assistants, use NLP as their main programming.
Although NLP is a great advancement in technology, it has its limitations. First, it may be difficult for a computer to recognize anything other than a standard accent in the language it was programmed to process. Second, the hidden Markov model (HMM) is a model which allows a computer to piece sounds together to imitate human speech. As HMM has a limited database, the resulting computer-generated voice sounds inauthentic.
NLP’s limitations causes some problems to arise. Indeed, the computer’s difficulty in recognizing a wide range of accents can be discriminatory. A person who’s regional accent is stronger or who’s first language is not English may feel discriminated. Further, some words’ meanings vary depending on the region. This may create miscommunication problems, causing a computer to output an erroneous answer. In consequence, services like personal assistant programs may fail to accomplish their main purpose, which is to provide a helpful answer.
Our Video:
Additional Facts about NLP
FACTS HERE
Media Lab Blog 2020 