Facebook is honing in on developing an AI able to give users verbal directions – without the use of GPS.

Robo walking buddy

A team made up of University of Montreal researchers and the Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research boffins have created a neural network capable of giving users plain language directions in real-time.

The neural network, once fully developed, is theorised to provide end-to-end directions when internet and connectivity is unavailable, and provide a route through conversing with the user.

The process is meant to mimic asking a real live person for directions.

The future is friendly

“Plain language” is the key to the endeavour's success. Imagine, as a tourist, describing a landmark to an AI program and it being able to guide you from there. Too easy.

The program, called Talk the Walk, is in the early stages of development, but the accompanying white paper establishes promising data-sets and algorithms that have programmers excited throughout the industry.

To access the Talk the Walk white paper click here.

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