This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Published on August 6, 2019, Google's Live Transcribe app has been making waves in the tech world by revolutionizing the way deaf individuals communicate with others. The app, developed by a team at Google's Artificial Intelligence Research group, including Sagar Savla, a 26-year-old product manager, aims to reduce the use of sign language.
Live Transcribe is an Android app that transcribes speech in near-real-time, allowing users to communicate in situations where they might otherwise be unable to. The app is available for free on the Google Play Store and has been downloaded over one million times.
According to Sagar, the app is designed to be user-friendly, with features such as automatic punctuation, context understanding, and correct capitalization. The app can be used in different languages, including Kiswahili, and is accessible to millions of Android phone users worldwide.
Google Kenya Country Manager Charles Murito noted that 89% of all mobile phone platforms in Africa are Android phones, aligning with Google's objective of accessibility and reach. During a demonstration at Google Kenya Offices in Nairobi, Sagar showcased the app's ability to recognize various sounds, including laughter and knocking.
The app's development was inspired by Sagar's personal experience growing up with his grandmother, who was slowly losing her hearing. Sagar and a deaf colleague from Russia refined the app at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, which schools deaf students.
As a senior product manager in Google's AI research team, Sagar has been involved in building machine learning technology into products like the Pixel phone's camera, YouTube, and Google Home. His impressive resume also includes stints at Facebook, Lyft, and PayPal.
