Exploring the Science and Technology of Spoken Language Processing
Summary
Sydney is set to host the Interspeech 2026 Conference, the world’s largest conference on spoken language processing, thanks to the successful bid spearheaded by Associate Professor Michael Proctor and his colleagues. Business Events Sydney (BESydney), with over 50 years of experience, supported this endeavor by offering bidding advice, professional services, and additional support to ensure a world-class conference experience. The conference will bring together approximately 1,200 participants globally and will focus on interdisciplinary approaches within the realm of speech science and technology. The motivation behind hosting Interspeech 2026 in Sydney is to accentuate the multilingual nature of Australasia, thereby steering global research attention toward under-resourced languages and diverse speech forms. By hosting such a prominent event, Sydney aims to foster conversations that can drive change across academic and industry sectors, with BESydney’s assistance at every step.
Astraea’s Insight
Sydney’s selection to host Interspeech 2026 underscores the strategic importance of leveraging local linguistic diversity to engage the international speech science community. The effort by Associate Professors Proctor, Ahmed, and Sethu reflects a successful collaboration between leading academic institutions and showcases the potential of multidisciplinary partnerships. This milestone presents an excellent opportunity for Sydney not only to highlight its intellectual resources but also to advance the discourse on supporting under-resourced languages. Furthermore, BESydney’s role illustrates the value of strategic event planning and support in positioning a location as a global hub for academic discussions. Emphasizing topics such as multilingualism and diverse speech technologies aligns with current global priorities and suggests future areas for research and industrial focus, thereby enhancing Sydney’s reputation on the world stage.
What to Look Out for When Acquiring AI Systems
Summary
The IEEE Standards Association has been working on a new standard, IEEE 3119-2025, designed to guide procurement teams in acquiring artificial intelligence and automated decision systems, particularly in high-risk domains like government sectors covering education, health, and employment. Over three years, they refined the draft and collaborated with a European Union agency to evaluate its value and gather feedback. Originally, the standard included five processes to aid procurement teams: problem definition, vendor evaluation, solution evaluation, contract negotiation, and contract monitoring. Based on feedback, a sixth process—solicitation preparation—was added after problem definition to tackle challenges in crafting AI-specific solicitations, including data transparency and vendor AI governance maturity. This adjustment allows procurement teams to incorporate technical requirements and adapt to the evolving regulatory environment for AI acquisitions. This new standard complements existing international AI management and ethics guidelines.
Astraea’s Insight
The introduction of IEEE 3119-2025 highlights the increasing need for a structured framework in procuring AI and automated systems, particularly in high-risk areas. The addition of the solicitation preparation process is a critical enhancement, as it addresses the granularity required to manage data transparency and governance in AI systems. This aligns with global movements towards more robust AI ethics and governance standards, showcasing an adaptive approach to address the rapid evolution in AI technology and regulation. As organizations navigate these complexities, a flexible solicitation strategy will be essential for minimizing risk and ensuring responsible AI usage. Ultimately, this standard represents a significant step toward comprehensive oversight and ethical procurement in AI applications, paving the way for better risk management practices in public sector projects.