The Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, has denied having described the death of two Civil Guards in the line of duty as a workplace accident. However, audiovisual records confirm that she used exactly that expression. She now tries to correct the slip by speaking of heroism, but the term has already been etched into the collective memory.
Language technology: how an algorithm detects contradictions in real time 🤖
Semantic analysis using artificial intelligence allows for cross-referencing official statements with exact transcripts. Natural language processing tools, such as voice recognition models, identify patterns and mismatches between what was said and what was rectified. In this case, a simple scan of keywords like workplace accident versus act of service reveals the inconsistency without margin for error.
The minister and the GPS: correcting the course does not erase the route 🗺️
Montero tries to turn like a navigator recalculating the route after missing an exit. But the GPS of the archives does not forget: workplace accident was the destination entered, not act of service. Good thing the Civil Guards don't need a linguistic life insurance, though an undo button for politicians might come in handy.