AI-Powered Closed Captions Could Open Up New Possibilities – and Pitfalls

Closed captions have become a staple of the TV- and movie-watching experience. For some, it's a way to decipher muddled dialogue. For others, like those who are deaf or hard of hearing, it's a critical accessibility tool. But captions aren't perfect, and tech companies and studios are increasingly looking to AI to change that. Captioning for TV shows and movies is largely still done by real people, who can help to ensure accuracy and preserve nuance. But there are challenges. Anyone who's watched a live event with closed captions knows on-screen text often lags, and there can be errors in the rush of the process. Scripted programming offers more time for accuracy and detail, but it can still be a labor-intensive process -- or, in the eyes of studios, a costly one. In September, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it's teaming up with Google Cloud to develop AI-powered closed captions, "coupled with human oversight for quality assurance." In a press release, the company said using AI in ... Read full article.