Open Source AI and speech recognition

Open Source AI and Speech Recognition

My name is Kathy Reid and up until recently I was the director of developer relations at a company called Mycroft AI. In this article, I will discuss the importance of open-source voice solutions in education and provide an overview of the Mycroft AI platform.

Mycroft AI is unique in that it offers a full-stack open-source voice solution. They provide a voice stack with multiple layers, including wake words, speech-to-text, intent matching, skills execution, and text-to-speech. This stack allows for the development of voice user interaction skills, which are becoming increasingly important in education.

The curriculum in many educational institutions is evolving to include teaching on how to design for voice user interaction. Just as mechanical engineering, web design, and desktop publishing have been included in the curriculum, voice user interaction design will also become an essential skill in the future.

The Mycroft AI platform aims to make voice user interaction design more accessible and consumable. They provide an open-source stack, which allows for the rapid development of voice skills and applications. This platform can be used to design for voice user interaction in various domains, including education.

One of the challenges in speech recognition technology is the accuracy of transcription. Mycroft AI currently uses a cloud-based speech-to-text provider but plans to move towards using Mozilla's DeepSpeech as the default provider. DeepSpeech is an open-source speech-to-text engine being developed by Mozilla.

In addition to speech recognition, Mycroft AI also focuses on improving text-to-speech technology. They have developed a tool called the Mimic Recording Studio, which allows users to record audio to train a custom text-to-speech voice. This tool is particularly useful for preserving endangered languages by providing a voice system that recognizes and speaks these languages.

The modular architecture of the Mycroft AI platform allows users to easily customize and extend its functionalities. Developers can create their own skills by following the provided skill template and leveraging the Mycroft API. This flexibility enables the integration of the platform with various devices and services, including smart homes and IoT devices.

Summary:

Keywords: open-source, voice solutions, education, curriculum, speech-to-text, intent matching, skills execution, text-to-speech, Mimic Recording Studio, modular architecture, customization, smart home, IoT devices.

FAQ:

1. What is Mycroft AI? Mycroft AI is a company that provides a full-stack open-source voice solution, allowing for the development of voice user interaction skills.

2. How does the Mimic Recording Studio work? The Mimic Recording Studio is a tool that allows users to record audio to train a custom text-to-speech voice, which can be used in the Mycroft AI platform.

3. Can Mycroft AI support different languages and dialects? Yes, Mycroft AI can be trained to recognize and speak different languages and dialects, making it suitable for preserving endangered languages.

4. Can developers create their own skills on the Mycroft AI platform? Yes, developers can create their own skills by following the provided template and using the Mycroft API.

5. What are some potential applications of the Mycroft AI platform? The Mycroft AI platform can be used in various domains, including education, smart homes, and IoT devices, to enable voice user interaction and control.

Please note that the FAQs are generated based on the information provided in the article.