What is Natural Language Generation?

Natural language generation (NLG) is the process of generating text that appears to be written by a human, without the need for a human to actually write it. A subset of Natural Language Processing (NLP), NLG technology works together with Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to generate NLP.

NLG technology can be used for a variety of purposes, including creating automated customer service responses, filling out online forms, and creating intelligent chatbots.

How is NLG used?

There are many uses for natural language generation technologies. One common use is to create automated customer service responses. Using natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a customer service representative can create a set of responses to frequently asked questions without having to type them out manually. An NLG system will then generate responses for the customer based upon those answers so that the representative can spend more time answering specific questions from customers and less time typing out responses over and over again. Another very common use for NLG is to fill out online forms. By using natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a form can be automatically populated with the information you need to submit it. For example, signing up for an online account on a website might require you to enter your name, email, phone number, and password. An NLG system can automatically detect those fields and fill them in for you, saving you time and hassle.

What are the benefits of using NLG?

There are three main benefits to using natural language generation: increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and increased personalization. NLG systems can automate time-consuming tasks, freeing up your employees to spend more time on other important work. Their automated nature also results in fewer errors than traditional software coding techniques, so you can rest assured in the knowledge that your information will be accurate every time. Additionally, NLG can be used to make information more personalized or tailored toward specific individuals, making them feel more valued and more likely to engage with your organization. This will ultimately increase your customer satisfaction ratings and encourage repeat business.

How can I get started using NLG?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to get started using natural language generation will vary depending on your specific needs. However, some tips on how to get started include setting up an NLG system with the right software and training your content creators to write in a more natural voice. Additionally, you might want to consider incorporating NLG into your customer service strategy by using it to generate responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs). By doing this, you can provide customers with the information they need without having to contact a human customer service representative.

How NLG works

NLG is a multi-stage process, with each step further refining the data being used to produce content with natural-sounding language. The six stages of NLG are as follows:

Content analysis: Data is filtered to determine what should be included in the content produced at the end of the process. This stage includes identifying the main topics in the source document and the relationships between them.

Data understanding: The data is interpreted, patterns are identified and it's put into context. Machine learning is often used at this stage.

Document structuring: A document plan is created and a narrative structure chosen based on the type of data being interpreted.

Sentence aggregation: Relevant sentences or parts of sentences are combined in ways that accurately summarize the topic.

Grammatical structuring: Grammatical rules are applied to generate natural-sounding text. The program deduces the syntactical structure of the sentence. It then uses this information to rewrite the sentence in a grammatically correct manner.

Language presentation: The final output is generated based on a template or format the user or programmer has selected.

Overall, natural language generation is a powerful tool that can be used to increase efficiency and accuracy in a variety of contexts. By investing in a system and training your employees to use it correctly, you can achieve the benefits outlined above and make strides towards better serving your customers and enhancing your brand’s reputation.