The Voice Box cover art

The Voice Box

By: Jeff Adams
  • Summary

  • Welcome to The Voice Box, a podcast all about the fascinating world of voice and speech technology! Every week, we bring you in-depth interviews with experts in the field, covering everything from the latest advances in natural language processing to the ethical implications of voice assistants.

    Whether you're a developer working on your own voice-powered project, a business trying to elevate your customer experience through conversational AI, Bots or Automated Quality Controls or simply someone who's interested in the future of how we interact with technology, The Voice Box has something for you. Our guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia, industry, and startups, giving you a well-rounded perspective on the state of the field.

    In each episode, we delve into the business and technical details of how voice and speech technology works, exploring topics like machine learning, signal processing, natural language understanding and processing and linguistics. But we also go beyond the nuts and bolts to discuss the broader implications of these technologies for society. How will voice assistants change the way we live and work? What are the ethical considerations surrounding their use? How will voice biometrics secure and protect our accounts? We tackle these and other big questions on The Voice Box.

    So, join us as we explore the exciting and rapidly evolving world of voice and speech technology. With The Voice Box, you'll stay up to date on the latest developments and gain a deeper understanding of the technologies shaping our future.

    The Voice Box is hosted by brothers Jeff and Darin Adams. Jeff has a 30-year history working in speech & language technology. He led R&D teams at Dragon, Nuance, Yap, and Amazon before founding Cobalt Speech & Language. Darin has a 30-year history in television broadcasting and is a consummate interviewer. With Jeff and Darin, you will always be informed and entertained.

    The Voice Box is sponsored by Cobalt Speech and Language, a leading provider of voice technology to companies around the world. Drop us a line to explore how we can help you win with voice: info@cobaltspeech.com

    Podcast theme music is graciously provided by The Garden Plot. (Spotify)

    2021 Cobalt Speech
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Episodes
  • David Forman - Clarity Creative
    Mar 8 2024

    David Forman is a visionary entrepreneur and digital marketing expert, renowned for his innovative use of speech and voice technology to revolutionize business operations.

    With a background in corporate management and a passion for maximizing efficiency, David has consistently sought out cutting-edge solutions to streamline processes and drive success.

    As the founder of Clarity Creative, a leading digital marketing agency, David has spearheaded initiatives to leverage speech recognition technology, notably utilizing Otter.ai to record and transcribe meetings seamlessly.

    His forward-thinking approach has not only transformed how his team communicates and collaborates but has also significantly enhanced client satisfaction and project turnaround times.

    David's philosophy of "productive laziness" underscores his commitment to finding efficient solutions to complex challenges, inspiring his team to embrace innovation and prioritize effectiveness in their endeavors.

    Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, David is dedicated to sharing his expertise and insights, actively engaging with industry peers to explore the vast potential of speech and voice technology in diverse contexts.

    With a keen focus on continual improvement and a drive to push the boundaries of what is possible, David Forman stands at the forefront of the digital marketing landscape, guiding businesses toward greater efficiency, productivity, and success through the power of speech technology.


    Main Takeaways

    1. Efficiency through Technology: David demonstrates how embracing speech and voice technology, exemplified by Otter.ai, can significantly enhance productivity and streamline business operations, particularly in recording and transcribing meetings with precision and ease.

    2. Productive Laziness Philosophy: David's concept of "productive laziness" highlights the importance of seeking efficient solutions to tasks and processes, ultimately freeing up time for more meaningful endeavors and driving progress in both personal and professional spheres.

    3. Future of Speech Technology: Looking ahead, David envisions further advancements in speech technology, including automatic summarization of meetings and task assignment based on transcriptions, underscoring the transformative potential of AI-driven solutions in reshaping work dynamics and communication methods.


    Key Timestamps

    [00:01:41] Introduction of David Forman by Darin and Jeff, highlighting his expertise in leveraging speech and voice technology to transform business operations.

    [00:06:21] David explains the concept of "productive laziness" from his previous job, emphasizing the importance of finding efficient solutions to tasks and processes.

    [00:09:55] David discusses his vision for the future of speech technology, including automatic summarization of meetings and task assignment based on transcriptions.

    [00:15:57] Jeff compares Cobalt's speech technology with Otter.ai, highlighting Cobalt's focus on providing core technology for integration into other platforms and discussing ongoing projects in emotion and speaker recognition.

    [00:17:36] Advancements in speech technology, such as task assignment based on transcriptions, and emphasizes the importance of characterizing speakers' voices for enhanced functionality, offering a glimpse into the future of Cobalt's developments.


    Guest Quotes

    1. "Productive laziness is about finding more time to do things efficiently, not wasting time on unnecessary tasks." - David Forman

    2. "Speech and voice technology have unlocked a new level of efficiency in our meetings, allowing us to focus on meaningful tasks rather than tedious note-taking." - David Forman

    3. "Embrace innovation and prioritize effectiveness in your endeavors to drive progress and success in both personal and professional spheres." - David Forman

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    19 mins
  • Alyson Pace - Voiceitt
    28 mins
  • Manuj Aggarwal - TetraNoodle Technologies
    Jun 30 2023

    Manuj Aggarwal is an expert in artificial intelligence, having worked in the field since 2007. 

    He believes that AI is not just coming, it's been changing the world for at least the past 15 years. From smartphones to voice-enabled devices like Alexa, AI is already all around us. 

    Manuj sees a future where AI will not take over humanity or cause mass unemployment, but will instead displace some jobs while creating new and more satisfying opportunities for those who upskill themselves and become early adopters. He is excited about the potential of AI to change the world and looks forward to helping others navigate the transformation it will bring.

    In our interview with him, Manuj shares his optimistic view on AI and its potential to create a harmonious utopian world. He talks about how AI can afford humanity almost anything and build more harmonious relationships. 

    He envisions a more fulfilling lifestyle as a result of AI and how AI technology is already present in every device from smartphones to voice assistants. 

    We also discuss how AI will lead to fundamental shifts in how we think about human life, creating hyper-personalized customer service and even personalized medicine and healthcare.  

    Listen to this episode to discover more about the potential benefits of AI, the importance of enhancing voice and speech, and the significance of having an open mind when it comes to adapting new tech. 


    Key Takeaways

    • The positive potential of AI in creating a utopian world 
    • Efficiency and cost-effectiveness of AI in producing resources 
    • AI's ability to simulate all human senses, including speech, and detect COVID through coughs 
    • AI's presence in common technology and its optimization of the technology we currently use
    • The displacement of some jobs with the introduction of new technology 
    • Machine-led thinking and increased value placed on emotional intelligence 
    • Personalization through AI and its potential use in personalized medicine 
    • Darin’s personal story and fear of the unknown with AI


    Timestamps

    [00:00:22] Darin’s "Viper" story.

    [00:06:10] AI mimics human senses, detects COVID via cough.

    [00:08:21] Taking action for success.

    [00:11:10] Enhance your voice, and how you can build a community and solve problems.

    [00:15:46] AI recognizes diseases through coughs.

    [00:18:02] Voice recognition technology enables personalized service.


    Quotes

    • The Impact of AI on Jobs: "AI is not going to take over humanity. It is not going to cause mass unemployment. Yes, there will be some job displacement, but that always happens when a new groundbreaking technology is introduced."
    • The Future of Emotional Intelligence: "We are entering what I call a post thinking era...we are going to be valuing emotional intelligence more than our intellectual intelligence."


    Connect with Manuj 

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/manujaggarwal/?originalSubdomain=ca 

    Website - https://www.manujaggarwal.com/ 

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/manujagro 

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    22 mins

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