SK Telecom (SKT) has unveiled ‘Trans Talker,’ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered simultaneous interpretation service which can understand and translate a total of 13 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish. The company has expressed its intention to further expand this linguistic repertoire based on user feedback.
Trans Talker is designed to facilitate communication with foreign visitors: a person speaks into a microphone in front of a transparent screen, and their words are translated and displayed in Korean for the desk attendant. The employee then responds in Korean, and the reply is converted back into the visitor’s language in real time, appearing on the monitor.
This innovative service operates through a combination of a transparent LED display, a unidirectional microphone that filters out ambient noise, and a computer. To power the AI-driven simultaneous interpretation, SKT collaborated with AI specialist company Conantech Technologies, incorporating technologies such as Speech-To-Text (STT), Natural Language Processing (NPU), translation engines, and Large Language Models (LLM).
Initially installed in the Avenueel Seoul Jamsil branch and the basement of the Lotte World Mall, the company has plans to expand the service across various businesses where live interpretation is needed. In addition to retail, Trans Talker holds potential for applications in public transport, hotels, governmental offices, tourist attractions, and restaurants, as well as within multinational corporations.
SKT further highlights the potential of Trans Talker, which is cloud-based, to transform into a standalone IT infrastructure-based model for security-conscious businesses and public institutions. The company is also in the development stages of an on-device AI interpretation solution. SKT’s VP in charge of Enterprise AI Communication highlighted Trans Talker’s robust language support and real-time interpretation capabilities as its major advantages and mentioned plans for a future service that would allow smaller businesses to adopt this solution at low cost by managing its operation and maintenance.
Important Questions and Answers:
1. What is ‘Trans Talker’?
‘Trans Talker’ is an AI-powered simultaneous interpretation service developed by SKT that can comprehend and translate 13 languages, aiming to aid communication between foreign visitors and local staff at various businesses.
2. Who has SKT collaborated with to develop ‘Trans Talker’?
SKT developed the AI-driven simultaneous interpretation by collaborating with AI specialist company Conantech Technologies.
3. Where is ‘Trans Talker’ first implemented?
It is initially installed in the Avenueel Seoul Jamsil branch and the basement of the Lotte World Mall.
4. What technology powers ‘Trans Talker’?
It uses a transparent LED display, a unidirectional microphone, and a computer to employ technologies like Speech-To-Text, Natural Language Processing, translation engines, and Large Language Models.
5. What are the potential uses of ‘Trans Talker’ beyond retail?
The technology holds potential for use in public transportation, hotels, government offices, tourist attractions, restaurants, and multinational corporations.
6. Is ‘Trans Talker’ a cloud-based service?
Yes, ‘Trans Talker’ is cloud-based, but SKT is also developing a standalone IT infrastructure-based model for businesses and institutions concerned with security, as well as an on-device AI interpretation solution.
Key Challenges or Controversies:
– Data Privacy and Security: Ensuring the confidentiality of translated conversations, especially in sensitive business or governmental environments.
– Accuracy and Nuances: Maintaining high accuracy in interpretation across diverse languages and capturing cultural nuances.
– Technical Reliability: Overcoming potential technical issues such as connectivity problems or service interruptions that could affect real-time interpretation.
Advantages:
– Enhanced Communication: Breaks down language barriers and improves interactions between individuals speaking different languages.
– Accessibility: Enables businesses to serve a broader customer base without requiring multilingual staff.
– Efficiency: Provides immediate translation, reducing wait times and improving the flow of communication.
Disadvantages:
– Dependence on Technology: Relies on uninterrupted internet connectivity and could be disrupted by technical faults.
– Potential Language Limitations: While it currently supports 13 languages, there may be languages or dialects it doesn’t support, which could exclude certain user groups.
– Lacks Human Touch: AI may not fully replicate the subtlety and empathy of human interpreters, which can be critical in certain communications.
If you are seeking more information about SK Telecom’s offerings or would like to explore their main site, you may visit their homepage at SK Telecom.
The source of the article is from the blog papodemusica.com