I love this concept but it would be much more fluid if my message would auto-send without having to click. Also the voice (I used mandarin) sounds robotic, the microsoft azure voices sound amazing (you can try them here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/cognitive-service...)
Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
291–300 of 354 posts
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#292I tried using it in Portuguese and it's cool but it seems very off, just a huge number of things that don't sound even remotely natural or idiomatic. But when I click the translate button, the English translation is a perfectly reasonable thing to say. SO... I'm highly suspecting that, behind the scenes, the "real" conversation is happening in English, and it's translating in both directions. Which is always going to…
I did a limited session using the Spanish one and it did a good job. I can't recommend it since my session was so short but it's worth trying. It looks very promising.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#293This is an interesting tool. I did not encounter any awkward grammatical sentences that other posters did. But the conversation I had got really repetitive. This was my conversation (spanish).
AI: So why are you in the park?
Me: I'm here because I like to exercise
AI: That's great! I like to exercise too! What is your favorite type of exercise?
Me: I like to run
AI: That's great! I like to run too! What is your favorite route to run?
Me: I favorite place to run is on the Malecón.
AI: That's great! I like to run on the Malecón too! When do you run?
Me: I run in the evenings or at night.
AI: That's great! I love to run at night too.
I suppose I could have been a better conversationalist, but the AI logic used to ask questions deserves tweaking.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#294It really looks cool. But, why it doesn't have English? Or meybe if it does have, why isn't showed first? People who use language learning apps are focused in learning English most of the time. Still those who speak fluently are trying to improve their speaking and listening. And the first language which appeared for me was Brazilian Portuguese which is my mother language. [Edit] I was trying the Brazilian Portuguese…
Hahah I have a super silly response for this one: It's simply because we have not gotten around to translate the UI and everything into other languages besides english. That's why we simple assume people know english, since they need to be able to know at least some english to use it. But it's high on our to-do list.
The UI can be in English for people who want to learn English. People who study languages are at different proficiency levels (very few people are blank slates with no knowledge of the language).
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#295Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not for me, tried this in latest Chrome and Firefox, disabling ublock and ghostery and still same behavior. Then once a bit later it worked with blockers on, but just first back & forth. I think the author underestimated the interest of folks in such a product and it may be having HN 'kiss of death'
this kiss of death sounds ominous... The strange thing was I posted it to HN about 30days ago and got like 1 upvote. Obviously a lot has change since then, but still. I think the reason people like it so much is because you can try it without having to sign up first...not sure though.
Sign-up would for sure ease up on load, but MAN you created (if it works at least on 90%) product that tons of people would kill for! Combine with stuff like Duolingo and one can cover significant parts of language.
I've spent last year cca 5000$ on tons of conversation/grammar lessons via zoom to get to French B1 and do Swiss FIDE certificate, starting from very low A1 I would say.
Given, the guy was properly good and he helped me to get better tremendously (and I got the cert). The biggest issue with language learning is finding a buddy that would not run away after few mins disgusted by my torture of language, as many french unfortunately do (tells you something about their school system and archaic language, but those are other topics for other places). I mean people in remote France offer this for something like 25 euro/hour.
This tool may be perfect for that active part of learning, up to certain level I presume since I don't expect very high level finesse to be present (sorry I am a bit sceptic when it comes to AI/ML). This is the hardest part of learning // actively speaking, but also one where one grows the most.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#296I didn't see an English version. There are many people that will find that one useful.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#297am rusty chinese speaker. randomly assigned to converse on Furniture & Locations. --- Quazel: 告诉我吧!你是如何安排你的家具的？ Me (in halting, broken chinese): 窗户旁边有一个沙发，中间是电视和桌子。我的工作就是在这里. Quazel: 所以你的沙发是面向窗户的？那真的很好。我敢打赌，这样你会得到很多自然光。沙发后面是什么呢？ translated Quazel: How do you arrange your furniture? Me: There is a couch next to the window, with a TV and table in the middle. This is where I work. Quazel: So you have your couch facing t…
It's interesting that you got a deeper conversation. Mine was (in spanish):
Me: How are you?
Q: I am well
Me: What do you do?
Q: I am an engineer
Me: What kind of engineer?
Q: I am a civil engineer
That's when I got the pay/subscription wall.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#298This is an interesting tool. I did not encounter any awkward grammatical sentences that other posters did. But the conversation I had got really repetitive. This was my conversation (spanish). AI: So why are you in the park? Me: I'm here because I like to exercise AI: That's great! I like to exercise too! What is your favorite type of exercise? Me: I like to run AI: That's great! I like to run too! What is your favor…
That's great! I like to have better AI logic too.
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#299First, I’d like to say I really love this product. Thanks for making this. Second, where are the companies that are doing this type of thing for NPC dialogue in games. Imagine playing Mass Effect or Skyrim but where you get to ask whatever and the NPC responds with something that fits within the space of possible answers based on the prompt that defined their existence.
I don't think that tech even exists
For the answers to make sense the NPC needs to be consistent
I've never seen one of these chat bots that doesn't produce occasional nonsensical answers
There's also the problem that as the designer you don't even know what your NPC is going to tell the player
You can do a bunch of testing but its still unpredictable
Re: Show HN: Get conversational practice in over 20 languages by talking to an AI
#300Funny thing, my friend and I just built a very similar app: https://blabot.app It's a bit more minimalistic though.
Maybe we can have a chat? Would be cool. philipp@quazel.com