Open Finland-Swedish AI voice - To increase the quality of Arcada's robots by creating a synthesized Finland-Swedish AI voice.

Background and goals

To address the lack of adapted technical solutions for minority languages, we are developing and deploying a synthesized Finland-Swedish AI voice to enhance the quality of our robots at Arcada using open technologies. This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to integrate humanoid robots in social contexts, leveraging our expertise in machine learning and reliable AI.

Arcada has extensive experience in designing and implementing humanoid robots for various applications. However, users have consistently pointed out that the existing voice options are often in national Swedish, which may not be suitable for all interactions. For instance, a patient at a nursing home noted that our robot Alf use of national Swedish was "not appropriate." This feedback highlights the need for a Finland-Swedish AI voice that can cater to the linguistic preferences of our users.

Objectives and benefits

To address this need, we will develop a synthesized Finland-Swedish AI voice using open-source and available state-of-the-art technology. The new voice will be designed for use in Arcada's robots and will have significant implications for future projects and events. Our goal is to create a voice that is more natural-sounding and linguistically accurate in Finland-Swedish context.

Results

The developed voice will be made available under an open-source license, allowing others to utilize and build upon our work. We are committed to ensuring the development of this voice is carried out in an ethical manner, leveraging our expertise in machine learning and Trustworthy AI. Our new knowledge center for AI & Human interaction hub is equipped with modern technology that enables us to fine-tune the voice for optimal performance.

Societal impact

The synthesized Finland-Swedish AI voice will have far-reaching implications for future research and visibility in areas such as children's robotics interaction, human-robotics interaction, and virtual interactions at Arcada. By developing this voice, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive and user-centric approach to robotics development.

Abstract

Arcada aims to address the need for adapted technical solutions in minority languages by deploying a synthesized Finland-Swedish AI voice for use in their robots. Driven by user feedback highlighting the importance of linguistic inclusivity, particularly in social robotics applications where national Swedish voices are often not suitable. Arcada aims to enhance user experience and contribute to more inclusive and culturally sensitive robotics development.