Chinese TV will introduce the first AI sign language presenter in time for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
China Central Television (CCTV) and Baidu AI Cloud said the launch of the AI sign language presenter represents a huge leap forwards in “overcoming the barrier of sound with technology”.
Nearly 28 million people in China are hearing impaired and about 430 million around the world also suffer from hearing loss.
The launch of the AI presenter will allow the state broadcaster to include sign language services for viewers around the clock, and will start by giving updates of the Winter Olympics in Beijing early next year.
The presenter achieves high-level sign language expression thanks to Baidu’s natural action engine and their sign language translation engine.
The Baidu AI Cloud uses machine translation, speech recognition and other intelligent technologies to compile a detailed sign language translator for audio, video, and text that the presenter can draw from in real time.
Programmed to display the right expressions for the topic being presented, the AI anchor appears as a young woman with a friendly and natural disposition.
The digital presenter, apparently yet to be named, will first appear on CCTV in time for the Winter Olympics, but will also provide news bulletins in sign language 24/7.
