Jo Lernout, the innovative founder of Ariolas, delves into his extensive career and the transformative power of language technology. With over three decades of experience in the field, Lernout shares insights into the evolution of speech recognition, machine translation, and AI-driven tools. He discusses how Ariolas is creating affordable and practical language learning solutions for refugees and immigrants. Discover how Ariolas is leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support teachers and enhance the educational experience, making language learning accessible and effective for everyone.
“My passion has always been starting with curiosity. I’m extremely curious and I read and study every day about technology in general, the newer technologies, and more in particular speech and language technologies and artificial intelligence,” Lernout shares, highlighting the driving force behind his enduring career in tech innovation.
Lernout’s dedication to technological advancement is evident in his reflections on the progress of speech recognition. “With the deep learning machine learning techniques, speech recognition is so good that it’s as good as a human speaking with very few errors. It’s cheap enough to use in various applications, making language learning accessible and effective,” he explains.
Lernout’s journey began in 1987 when he co-founded Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, a company that quickly became a global leader in speech and language technologies. Despite facing significant challenges and setbacks, Lernout’s commitment to innovation never wavered. Today, he continues to apply his extensive knowledge and experience to new projects at Ariolas.
One of the most impactful initiatives by Ariolas is their development of avatar-driven online lessons, aimed at transforming traditional language learning. “We are turning traditional language learning textbooks into avatar-driven online lessons to help both teachers and students. This approach automatically translates and subtitles course material, making it easier for refugees and immigrants to follow and understand,” Lernout reveals, emphasizing the practical benefits of their technology.
As Ariolas continues to innovate and expand, Lernout’s vision for the future remains clear: to harness the power of language technology to break down barriers and create opportunities for all. His work not only supports language learners but also empowers educators, making the teaching process more effective and inclusive.
As Ariolas continues to innovate and expand, Lernout’s vision for the future remains clear: to harness the power of language technology to break down barriers and create opportunities for all. His work not only supports language learners but also empowers educators, making the teaching process more effective and inclusive.
By embracing these advancements, we can look forward to a future where language learning is more accessible, efficient, and impactful. Jo Lernout and Ariolas are at the forefront of this revolution, showing us the potential of technology to create positive change in education and beyond.
For more insights and to delve deeper into Jo Lernout’s journey and the groundbreaking work of Ariolas, watch the full interview on YouTube. Join us in exploring how technology is reshaping the future of education.
