Exploring the Science and Technology of Spoken Language Processing
Summary
Sydney is set to host the Interspeech 2026 Conference, the world’s largest event focused on the science and technology of spoken language processing. This significant achievement was facilitated by Business Events Sydney (BESydney), which offers comprehensive support for bidding and organizing international conferences. Associate Professor Michael Proctor from Macquarie University’s Department of Linguistics played a key role in the successful bid, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of New South Wales. The conference will gather around 1,200 participants globally and emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to speech science and technology. The decision to host the event in Sydney was driven by the intention to spotlight Australasia’s multilingual landscape and to focus on under-resourced languages. BESydney encourages leadership within global conference planning, positioning itself as an essential partner for such initiatives.
Astraea’s Insight
The strategic choice to host Interspeech 2026 in Sydney highlights the increasing recognition of diverse linguistic landscapes and underrepresented languages within the global speech science community. This move not only underscores Australia’s unique multilingual environment but also presents an opportunity to steer research and industry focus toward these under-resourced languages. The collaboration between different universities, facilitated by BESydney, exemplifies the power of teamwork and expert guidance in bringing large-scale international conferences to fruition. By promoting events that emphasize inclusivity and diversity in language research, Sydney is poised to enhance its role as a hub for innovation in speech science and technology.
What to Look Out for When Acquiring AI Systems
Summary
The new IEEE 3119-2025 standard has been developed to assist procurement teams in identifying and managing risks associated with procuring artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision systems, particularly within high-risk domains such as government sectors like education, health, and employment. This standard underwent refining over three years and includes feedback from a partnership with a European Union agency. Initially, the draft comprised five processes: problem definition, vendor evaluation, solution evaluation, contract negotiation, and contract monitoring. However, based on feedback, a sixth process, solicitation preparation, has been added after problem definition to address the challenges in preparing AI-specific solicitations. This addition allows procurement teams to include transparent data requirements and responsible AI requirements, which is crucial in adapting to evolving regulatory environments. The new standard aligns with other internationally accepted AI management and ethics standards to guide AI design, use, and life-cycle management.
Astraea’s Insight
The development of IEEE 3119-2025 underscores the increasing importance and complexity of integrating AI systems in public sector procurements, emphasizing a transparent and adaptable approach. The inclusion of the solicitation preparation step demonstrates a proactive effort to align procurement processes with the dynamic nature of AI technology and regulatory shifts. The collaboration with the EU agency highlights the significance of international cooperation in standardizing AI practices, ensuring they are robust and relevant across different jurisdictions. Adoption of such comprehensive standards is anticipated to enhance accountability and reliability in AI deployments, fostering trust in AI technologies within critical public sectors. This careful refinement offers a blueprint for managing AI procurements responsibly, with a focus on transparency, data integrity, and governance maturity, thus paving the way for more ethical and effective AI system implementations.