Understanding AI: How we taught computers natural language

Nov 30, 2023 ·

AI, or artificial intelligence, is a rapidly growing field of computer science that is revolutionizing the way we interact with computers. The ability for computers to understand and interpret natural language—what is known as natural language processing (NLP)—is one of its most impressive applications. Natural language processing is a subfield of AI that focuses on giving computers the ability to analyze and understand human language.

With NLP, computers can interpret word or phrase usage in a given context, allowing them to respond more naturally to questions asked by humans. This opens up an array of possibilities for interaction between humans and computers, from voice-activated virtual assistants to automated customer service agents.

Natural language processing requires complex algorithms, such as recurrent neural networks, which are designed to process sequences of words and recognize patterns. To develop these algorithms, research teams often use large datasets that contain real conversations between humans. By training computers to “listen” and respond to conversations using this data, researchers are able to improve the accuracy of natural language processing algorithms.

One of the major challenges in natural language processing is to identify contexts in which words and phrases should be interpreted differently. For example, when given the phrase “I went on a run,” a computer must be able to differentiate between running in a literal sense and running a business. To better understand these nuances, AI systems are beginning to incorporate knowledge graphs, which are networks of facts and relationships between concepts.

In addition to recognizing the meaning behind words, natural language processing also involves generating natural sounding responses to user input. To do this, developers are creating chatbots that use machine learning algorithms to mimic the language used by humans. These chatbots can be used to automate customer service tasks, generate personalized product recommendations, and even provide conversational coaching.

Overall, natural language processing has become an integral part of how computers communicate with humans. From chatbots to virtual assistants, natural language processing algorithms are changing the way we interact with technology. With continued improvements, these algorithms will only get better at understanding our needs, allowing us to do more with less effort.