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TACO 2.0: A task-oriented dialogue system with mixed initiatives and multi-modal interaction

By The Ohio State University
2023
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In the inaugural Alexa Prize TaskBot Challenge, we introduced TACO 1.0, a task-oriented digital assistant, designed to guide users through multi-step tasks in cooking and home improvement. Equipped with a suite of components including language understanding, dialogue management, and response generation, bolstered by a search engine, TACO 1.0 set a robust foundation in user-centered assistance. Building on this, we present TACO 2.0, aspiring to deliver a more collaborative and engaging dialogue experience. Towards this end, we refine our mechanisms to better accommodate the dynamic nature of real-world conversations, supporting mixed initiatives from both users and agents. In terms of user initiative, we develop an upgraded hierarchical intent recognition module and a more powerful question- answering system to accurately comprehend and respond to user needs. To cater to agent initiative, we incorporate a chit-chat functionality, allowing for multi-turn casual conversations. Furthermore, we delve into a series of strategies for multi-modal interaction to continuously improve user engagement.

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