In a small backroom of a haberdashery in Vitoria-Gasteiz, back in 1991, a dream was born: to make machines talk. A group of visionaries, including an engineer and a linguist, embarked on an adventure that would lead them to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. Thus NaturalSpeech was born, a company that today is a world leader in the development of virtual assistants with artificial intelligence.
Blanca Romero, associate director of NaturalSpeech, recalls those first steps: “It was to practice the pronunciation of a language,” she explains. But they soon realized the potential of these technologies in other areas. The automation of telephone conversations, especially in sectors such as banking and administration, was seen as a major growth opportunity.
Their first projects were pioneering. In 1992, they implemented the first telephone appointment system for tax returns in Alava. “We created a voice synthesis system with our own voice and not a robotic one, and the ability to recognize what people say, which was not so easy at that time,” explains Romero.
Since that small office, NaturalSpeech has come a long way. They have worked with large companies and public administrations, both nationally and internationally. They have been pioneers in the application of artificial intelligence to natural language, and today their virtual assistants are able to maintain fluid and natural conversations with users.
Empathetic AI
One of NaturalSpeech's greatest achievements has been the development of empathic artificial intelligence. Thanks to this technology, its virtual assistants are able to understand not only words, but also the user' s emotions and intentions. This makes it possible to offer a more personalized and human experience.
“The idea is to naturalize the way people interact with machines, bringing together the criteria of state-of-the-art technology in language technologies without forgetting the humanistic and linguistic nuance that communication should have,” explains Romero.
Future
The future of NaturalSpeech is full of opportunities. The company is working on innovative projects such as voice and image biometrics applied to construction, real-time automatic translation for emergency services, and the continuous improvement of its virtual assistants.
“We have a very active R&D department and participate in numerous research projects,” says Romero. “Our goal is to continue to be a leader in the development of language technologies and to offer solutions that improve people's lives.”
NaturalSpeech's story is an inspiring example of how a small idea can become a big company with a global impact. From that back room of a haberdashery, NaturalSpeech has come a long way, and more importantly, it continues to innovate and grow.
