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Playa del Rey-based The Smart Action Company is looking to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to the interactive voice response market, and has released a new producted focused on internative voice response, or IVR. The Smart Action Company--which is headed by Richard Koffler, who has been involved in the Tech Coast Angels and most recently Alelo--said it is looking to provide sophisticated, automated interaction using artificial intelligence, targeting IVR calls that currently can only be handled by human agents. IVR is typically used by companies to reduce their customer service costs, uses speech and keypad input to route calls and provide users information.

Los Angeles-based Alelo, the USC spinout which is developing "serious" games to teach languages and cultures, has scored a contract with the Voice of America. Alelo said Wednesday afternoon that its wholly owned subsidiary, Alelo TLT LLC, has been contracted to develop an interactive, Web-based learning portal for learners of English as a second language. Alelo said the contract calls for using automated speech Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. The win opens a new market for Alelo, whose existing systems have been used for preparing the military for deployment