Subj : The BBC is using AI to generate subtitles, and its about time
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Fri Aug 30 2024 11:15:05

The BBC is using AI to generate subtitles, and its about time

Date:
Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:10:31 +0000

Description:
The BBC Sounds audio platform is adding AI-generated subtitles to a select 
group of shows in a three-month trial

FULL STORY
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The hugely popular BBC Sounds audio platform is trialing new AI-generated 
subtitles that play along with shows, and full transcripts, via its website 
and app. The three-month trial is currently restricted to a handful of shows  
In Touch, Access All, Profile, Sporting Witness, and Economics with 
Subtitles. 

So, when listening to these specific shows via the website right now, youll 
see a new subtitles button in the playbar. Click this and the AI-generated 
subtitles will play along with the audio.



The BBC is also expanding the trial to the BBC Sounds app, on Android first , 
and later on iOS . So, in the app youll see the same subtitles icon appear in 
the playbar when listening to these particular shows. It works slightly 
differently, however. Subtitles will scroll up the screen, and the words 
being spoken are highlighted as the presenter and guests say them. 

The BBC is using a speech-to-text AI called Whisper AI for the trial, after 
which there will be a review to determine how well it has worked. If the BBC 
deems the project a success then (we hope) it will start rolling out the 
subtitles to even more shows. Subtitles displaying as a show plays on the BBC 
Sounds website (Image credit: Apple, inc, BBC) Why so long? 

Whats odd is that many podcast apps embraced AI for adding subtitles a long 
time ago. Spotify , for instance, actually added an automatic transcript to 
its podcasts way back in 2023, with a Read Along feature that brings up 
subtitles as the podcast plays, and highlights each word as it's being said. 
Apple added transcripts to Apple Podcasts earlier this year. 

While the trial is in progress the BBC is going to get a human editor to 
check each transcript before it's uploaded, rather than trust artificial 
intelligence to produce flawless transcripts. The BBCs reluctance to commit 
fully to AI-generated transcripts, and preferring to run a trial, is 
emblematic of the caution with which people generally approach AI. The BBC 
Sounds app showing subtitles. (Image credit: BBC) 

Given many peoples fears over what AI could means for jobs in the future, 
it's understandable that the BBC is being cautious, but the simple fact is 
that BBC Sounds produces approximately 27,000 hours of content each month, 
much of which is difficult to access for the approximately 18 million people 
in the UK who have hearing loss or tinnitus, not to mention its considerable 
worldwide audience, and it would be impossible to transcribe all that 
material manually. 

In its own way, the BBC is slowly being dragged into the future and embracing 
AI, but we're pleased to see that it's making good use of the exciting new 
technology.



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/the-bbc-is-using-a
i-to-generate-subtitles-and-its-about-time


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