Skype Translator is a handy feature. Since 2015, it has provided automatic, near-real-time translation of conversations exchanged in the popular videoconferencing application. To achieve this feat, Microsoft relies on artificial intelligence, but not only. According to the American website Motherboard, which revealed the affair last year on the basis of internal documents, the Redmond firm also uses small hands to train its model.
The extracts of recordings that Motherboard has been able to obtain relate to intimate conversations relating to personal or relationship problems. Microsoft makes no secret of the fact. In the Skype Translator FAQ, the publisher states that "Skype collects your conversation to provide a translation service. With your permission, your data may be used to improve Microsoft products and services. This may include transcription of audio recordings by Microsoft employees or suppliers.". However, it goes on to say that it is taking steps to anonymise the data.
Microsoft is not the only one to resort to such practices. According to the association La Quadrature du Net, GAFA uses humans to train their personal assistants. Often paid a pittance, they "manually" check the relevance of the bots' responses to user queries.
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