Nuance Communications and IBM joined hands under a five-year research initiative to design advanced next-generation speech technologies.

"Our relationship with Nuance demonstrates how IBM is applying its deep research skills and assets to help its collaborators and their clients address some of the world’s most formidable and exciting technical challenges,” said Dr. John E. Kelly III, senior vice president and director of IBM Research.  "Combining our technical talent with the expertise of companies like Nuance, we can create transformational technologies that hold promise to make the world work better."

“Speech technology already enables highly intuitive interactions, but there is still significant potential for the development and availability of next-generation speech solutions that allow people to communicate with machines in a natural, unconstrained fashion,” said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO, Nuance.  “The expanded collaboration between Nuance and IBM will deliver an inspiring portfolio of speech innovations that can accelerate the proliferation of speech across global industries. With IBM and Nuance working together, our objectives are within reach and we are well on our way to the day when people will interact with machines just as they would with another person.”

Last year, IBM had named Nuance as its Preferred Business Partner for speech technologies and related professional services.