The BBC’s virtual assistant is now available for testing in the UK

A virtual assistant from the BBC which aims to cater for Britain’s many dialects is now available for testing.

Even as a Brit, it can often feel like a translation app is needed between Bristolian, Geordie, Mancunian, Brummie, Scottish, Irish, or any of the other regional dialects in the country. For a geographically small country, we’re a diverse bunch – and US-made voice assistants often struggle with even the slightest accent.

The BBC thinks it can do a better...

The BBC is using AI to improve its content

The BBC has announced a five-year partnership with eight universities in a bid to use machine learning to improve its content. The iconic broadcaster is going through a difficult period. It’s facing stiff competition in the entertainment sphere from streaming services, its news coverage has been subject to calls for investigations following claims of breaching impartiality rules, and it’s been at the center of controversial scandals. A difficult period Increasing adoption of streaming...