NTT Resonant Unveils Conversational AI-based Restaurant Reservation Service

Demo Using NVIDIA Jarvis Platform

- Experience Human-like Conversation Using State-of-the-art Technology -

NTT Resonant Inc. is using NVIDIA Jarvis ( https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-jarvis ), a framework for conversational AI, with NTT Resonant’s conversational AI engine to build a demo of a freeform restaurant reservation system. The demo enables a full reservation service, from searching for a restaurant to reserving a table, using freeform spoken conversation with an AI agent. The demo was unveiled during “NVIDIA GTC21” held from April 12 to 16, 2021.

NTT Resonant’s investment in AI technology and R&D has been recognized by international conferences such as the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI). The goo AI x DESIGN solution uses goo AI (*) technology for AI services, and a new task force at a goo lab, an R&D team specialized in data analysis and cutting-edge machine learning, is leveraging NVIDIA AI to build this demo.

This restaurant reservation system was developed using conversational intent comprehension technology, ConvBERT, and the NVIDIA Jarvis conversational AI framework. Using NTT Resonant’s proprietary AI algorithms, ConvBERT is able to comprehend the context of multiple statements with high accuracy along with learning from its interactions.

In voice conversations between an AI agent and a human, AI responses are typically dictated by creating rules and using pattern recognition. The demo has a restaurant search and reservation API that identifies the necessary information to make a reservation, including restaurant type and location, time, atmosphere, and more, all while the human and AI converse freely.

The AI will also insert small talk into the conversation, creating the feeling of actually speaking with a human. NTT Resonant provides a type of AI that feels human, accurately interpreting information and user preferences to suggest restaurants without making the user feel like they are interacting with a machine.

This demo was originally revealed at NVIDIA GTC21. The patent is pending.

Image: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M101547/202105144893/_prw_PI1fl_Gcxg9HmJ.png

Please access the website listed below to view the demo and presentation at NVIDIA GTC21.

*Registration is required in NVIDIA Developer Program (free of charge).

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/on-demand/session/gtcspring21-s31266/

Although the demo was developed in English, NTT Resonant plans to make it available in Japanese and develop it for fields beyond restaurant reservation -- delivery services, e-commerce, real estate, and more. The company also aims to develop a platform for multipurpose AI services via APIs, using not only the ConvBERT API, but also multiple Resonant AI APIs that will be released.

Note:

(*) goo AI is a proprietary technology developed by NTT Resonant using NTT Group AI-related technology, corevo (R) ( https://group.ntt/en/corevo/ ), a registered trademark of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, as well as know-how and technology involving internet data accumulated via NTT Resonant’s portal site goo. By utilizing natural-language analysis technology and deep learning, various functionalities are available such as high-level context comprehension, personalization, and proper comprehension of orthographical variants.

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