6月28日午间英语新闻：神奇的变声器让尖叫和怒吼秒变温柔平和的声音

>Company creates AI voice filter that turns angry screams into calm speech

神奇的变声器：尖叫和怒吼秒变温柔平和的声音

A Japanese company has developed an artificial intelligence filter that can detect angry screams and translate them into calm speech in order to reduce the stress experienced by call center operators.

一家日本公司研发出一款人工智能变声器，可以检测出愤怒的尖叫声并将其转化为平和的话语，从而减轻呼叫中心操作员感受到的压力。

Large tech companies have long been aware of the stress their call center operators are exposed to every single day, with many customers taking out their anger and frustrations on them. Some of the companies have even introduced stress management programs that include relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, or therapy meant to ease irritability and anxiety. However, one Japanese company may have come up with a much more efficient solution – using AI to completely take screaming and aggressive speech out of the equation. SoftBank claims to have spent three years creating a voice filter that detects screaming and automatically translates it into calm speech.

长期以来，大型科技公司一直都很清楚他们的呼叫中心操作员每天承受的压力，许多客户都把自己的怒火和沮丧发泄到他们身上。一些公司甚至引入了包括放松技巧、冥想、瑜伽或减少易怒和焦虑情绪的理疗在内的压力管理方案。不过，日本软银公司或许找到了一个有效得多的解决方案——运用人工智能将尖叫和攻击性的声音“消除”。该公司声称耗时三年研发出了一款可以检测出尖叫声并将其自动转化为平和话语的变声器。

SoftBank’s voice filter consists of two stages, one in which the AI identifies an angry voice and extracts key points of speech, and a second where it uses acoustic tools to transform it into a more natural, even polite tone. Interestingly, the filter doesn’t change any of the words spoken by the person, but significantly softens the intonation. The call center operator will still hear any insults uttered, only in a soft tone, which should help reduce their stress and anxiety.

软银公司的变声器分两步进行，第一步，人工智能识别出愤怒的声音并提取出讲话要点，第二步，用声学工具将其转化为语调更自然、甚至更礼貌的声音。有趣的是，变声器不会改变说话者说出的任何字词，但是会让这些话的语调变温柔很多。呼叫中心操作员仍然可以听到对方说的任何侮辱性话语，只是听到的语调很柔和，这应该有助于减轻呼叫中心操作员的压力和焦虑情绪。

To train the AI, SoftBank’s engineers asked 10 actors to record at least 100 common phrases including screams, accusations, threats and demands for an apology. In total, more than 10,000 pieces of voice data were used to train the AI filter.

为了训练人工智能，软银公司的工程师请10名演员录制了至少100个常用短语，包括尖叫、指责、威胁和要求道歉，训练过程中总共使用了超1万条声音数据。

It’s unclear when SoftBank plans to implement the new scream-filtering AI into its call centers, but it will be interesting to see how well it works and how it impacts the emotional wellbeing of operators.

目前尚不清楚软银公司计划何时将这款新的智能尖叫变声器应用到呼叫中心，但是到时候看到其效果以及对呼叫中心操作员情感健康的影响应该会很有趣。

重点词汇：

1.detect

英/dɪˈtekt/

美/dɪˈtekt/

v.查明，察觉；测出，检测，识别

2.meditation

英/ˌmedɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

美/ˌmedɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

n.冥想，打坐；沉思，深思；（关于某主题的）感想，沉思录

3.irritability

英/ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/

美/ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/

n.过敏性；易怒；兴奋性

4.extract

英/ˈekstrækt; ɪkˈstrækt/

美/ˈekstrækt; ɪkˈstrækt/

n.选段，引文；提取物，汁

v.提取，提炼；取出，拔出；摘录；索取，设法得到；开（方），求（根）

5.acoustic

英/əˈkuːstɪk/

美/əˈkuːstɪk/

adj.声音的，听觉的；（乐器）原声的，不加电子设备传声的；（音乐）原声的，不经过电声设备放大的；（建筑材料）隔音的，修饰声音的；（装置，系统）利用声能运作的；（爆破性水雷或其他武器）能为声波引爆的

n.（房间或建筑物的）音响效果，音质；声学（acoustics）；原声吉他（acoustic guitar）

6.intonation

英/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

美/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

n.声调，语调；吟咏，吟诵；（素歌的）起始短句；（演奏或唱歌中的）音准

>Word of the day丨charging infrastructure network

每日一词|充电基础设施体系 

China has established a charging infrastructure network that boasts the world's largest number of installations, the most extensive services, and the most diverse range of options, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

国家发展改革委称，我国已建成世界上数量最多、服务范围最广、品种类型最全的充电基础设施体系。

【知识点】

新能源汽车充电基础设施是服务保障民生的重要交通能源融合类基础设施，也是促进新能源汽车消费和产业发展的重要支撑。截至今年5月底，全国充电基础设施总量达992万台，同比增长56%；其中，公共、私人充电设施分别达到305万台、687万台，分别增长46%、61%，我国已建成世界上数量最多、服务范围最广、品种类型最全的充电基础设施体系。

截至2023年底，全国新能源汽车保有量超过2000万辆，其中纯电动汽车保有量1552万辆，占比超过76%；展望未来，综合各方面情况看，我国消费者对新能源汽车需求还将持续走高，新能源汽车特别是电动汽车仍将保持较快速度增长，这也大幅催生了充电基础设施建设需求。今年全国计划新增公路服务区充电桩3000个、充电停车位5000个。