In a bid to make communication more inclusive for people with non-standard speech, Google has launched Project Relate in Singapore. This Android app, driven by artificial intelligence, aims to help individuals with diverse speech patterns connect more effectively with others and navigate daily tasks seamlessly.

Users of Project Relate can train the app by recording up to 500 commonly used phrases, enabling the creation of a personalised speech recognition model tailored to their unique speech patterns. The app offers three key features:

Listen: This feature transcribes the user’s speech into text in real-time, allowing them to copy and paste into other apps or show the transcription to others for easy communication.

Repeat: The app can restate the user’s words using a clear, synthesised voice, making it useful for in-person conversations or when interacting with voice-activated devices.

Voice Typing: Users can dictate text in apps like Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Translate, improving their ability to interact with a wide range of digital platforms.

The app also allows users to create custom phrases specific to their daily needs, further tailoring the experience to their unique vocabulary.

Aligning with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 Vision

“At Google, we believe AI has the potential to build an inclusive future,” said Ben King, Managing Director, Google Singapore. He highlighted that Project Relate exemplifies how AI can improve lives and align with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 vision. King emphasized Google’s commitment to making AI universally accessible and beneficial, particularly for people with disabilities.

Collaboration with Local NGOs to Expand Reach

Google has partnered with MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore) to introduce Project Relate to its beneficiaries, offering training for caregivers and staff to help individuals use the app. The company plans to extend this initiative to other organizations in the coming weeks, further enhancing accessibility for the disability community across Singapore.

Part of Google’s Broader Accessibility Efforts

Project Relate joins Google’s suite of apps aimed at making technology more accessible to people with disabilities, such as Live Transcribe, which offers real-time speech-to-text transcription for those who are hard of hearing, and Lookout, which aids visually impaired users in identifying objects and reading text.

The launch of Project Relate marks another step in Google’s mission to ensure that technological advancements empower everyone, regardless of their communication needs. The app is available for download on Android devices via the Google Play Store.