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Google’s ability to understand language is nearly equivalent to humans

Google’s machine learning software can recognize human voices with 95 percent accuracy.

A collection of new Google products on a white background. Google

Google’s voice recognition software is nearing human-level accuracy, Mary Meeker said in her annual Internet Trends Report, delivered at the Code Conference today at the Terranea Resort in California.

Google is now able to understand human language with 95 percent accuracy, thanks to machine learning algorithms that can detect speech and respond with meaningful results.

The improvement has occurred at a rapid pace. Since 2013, accuracy has improved nearly 20 percent, according to Meeker’s slide.

And as Google continues to include voice recognition in more of its products, like Google Translate and its mobile and Home voice-powered assistants, the company is moving toward a future where talking to our machines will one day be as seamless as talking to friend.

Mary Meeker

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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