Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) helps machines better understand human language. Computers can easily identify keywords and from a dictionary database know a specific word’s meaning. However, it is much harder to pick up the context of speech with its nuances like sarcasm. For example, we know when a friend says that they are “fine” that really might not be accurate. NLP is a form of AI as it learns off data (much the way we do) when to pick up on these nuances. 

NLP learns by example. A baby learns from repeated examples they’re able to reproduce when the situation reappears e.g. the word apple being spoken whenever an apple appears. Soon we begin to recognise similar situations and our database of examples is slowly formed into models of how and when to respond.  

Computers follow the same technique but it is substantially harder for them as they require a much larger amount of data. Furthermore, their model formation is much more structured than our more efficient heuristic belief systems. 

At Aveni our world leading NLP experts and excellent team of engineers, led by Dr Alexandra Birch and Barry Haddow, have spent some time developing Aveni Detect, an award-winning AI software as a service platform. It develops recognition tools for specific customer requirements such as monitoring risks or identifying vulnerable customers.