Couple of weeks back, I switched from Google Keyboard to Xploree Keyboard, a keyboard that can do much more than typing! In simple words, Xploree is an intent based keyboard that is powered by AI, NLP, Machine Learning and host of other technologies. It is a product from Hyderabad based KeyPoint Technologies that has earlier developed adaptxt and has mastered the art of building a keyboard that ‘Users Want’!.

Xploree doubles up as an effective ‘Discovery Platform’ that learns from user’s intent. Since it is a keyboard app, it also does the job of a regular keyboard 🙂 Xploree App review was earlier published here, today we have an interactive session with Deepti M. Saxena, Sales & Marketing Director, KeyPoint Technologies. The Q&A revolves around Xploree, technology behind the app, learnings from adaptxt, etc.

What are some of the advantages of using the Xploree Keyboard over other traditional keyboards ?

Xploree is a smart mobile keyboard app that doubles up as a discovery platform. Powered by AI, the keyboard allows users to receive relevant suggestions and content while they chat, browse apps, etc. Even before users realize, Xploree gauges user’s intent & suggests recommendations based on who and what the users care about, current context [location, availability, etc.] and their likelihood to care about things when in a similar context.

Unlike other keyboards in the market, Xploree is the first smart keyboard app that augments predictions: not just that of words but INTENT. This smart keyboard app supports 110+ global languages including 29 indic languages thereby connecting people to content, products, services and solutions, almost faster than ideas can actually lead to words that too in their moment of need!

Can you share some details about the team behind the revolutionary Xploree keyboard.

While Sunil Motaparti, Founder & CEO- leads the business, Nutan Chokkareddy, CTO leads the technological innovations at KPT. Prima Dona, COO oversees company wide operations, with a special focus on scaling Xploree. Kiran Karthikeyan is the Vice President Product and is involved in the overall success of the product offerings.

Deepti M. Saxena is in-charge of Xploree’s nationwide sales and marketing activities. Today KeyPoint Technologies has over 100 enthusiasts working towards achieving the end goal-that is-making the mobile SMART with its INTELLIGENT KEYBOARD.

Can you please touch base upon some of the tech aspects of the Xploree Keyboard ?

• First smart keyboard that identifies intents, categories and sentiment on the fly
• Following the standards to handle context better [schema.org, IAB Taxonomy etc.]
• Supports multiple languages and powered by NLP & Machine Learning [Neural Networks, Classification algorithms, recommendation systems etc.]
• Ontology with frequent updates to capture trending topics
• Captures and uses multiple contexts to provide the best discoveries
• Application & Domain Context, Time Context, Location Context, User Context, Typed Text Context
• Unlocking potential of mobile retail by integrating ability to buy products from within the app
• Works across apps
• Non-Intrusive. Follows EULA privacy policies
• Available in SDK and SaaS models – to be consumed by third party applications

How secure is it to use the Xploree App since it gives suggestions in Real-Time [when typing], is there any data stored on any server ?

Xploree follows strict EULA and data privacy policies and does not capture, store or map users’ data. We do it on the device in real-time and do not send any typed text to our server

The only data thread that hits the server is the context, which is never stored beyond the keyboard session.

Keypoint had earlier developed Adaptxt [which was also available on other platforms], what are some of the learnings developing Adaptxt that was carried over in development of Xploree

During building of Adaptxt we got to understand the nuances of different languages and how users express similar thoughts in variety of expressions. This helped us understand that language is not a straight math but an art to understand and predict next words or phrases. It called for nonstop iterations to keep improvising on the predictions.

For Xploree, we heavily rely on machine learning & sentiment modeling to churn different intents and expressions among zillions of text strings. To make the task simpler, we built lightweight NLP [natural language processing] that sits on the user device [not on our servers unlike other search engines] and does everything within the device without compromising on user privacy.

Xploree is built over Adaptxt by adding advance layers of intent technology and machine learning.

Who are some of the partners who are present on the Xploree platform

Zomato, Flipkart, Amazon, Shopclues, First Cry, Housejoy, CouponDunia, Daily Motion among several others.

Recently Google released GBoard that also uses NLP, Machine Learning, etc. what are some of the USP’s of Xploree vis-a-vis GBoard

Any other keyboard in the market do not promise to be as ‘smart’ as Xploree besides offering a personalized dictionary. Xploree does more than a normal keyboard by capturing intent and context thereby becoming a virtual friend to users:a friend who understands their intent, context, desires, motives and matches them to relevant recommendations in real time.

KPT has been primarily working on Keyboards [LIPI, Adaptxt, Xploree,etc.], how as a company have you seen the Keyboard(s) evolve over a period of time ?

KPTs’ passion for linguistics and technology has enabled the company to deliver a better user experience across all types of connected devices over the years. KPT has seen a lot of success in the last couple of years with regards to the in-house innovations.

Adaptxt is an industry leading predictive text application for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Adaptxt was created with the aim of delivering a faster, error-free and personalized text input experience to users. Adaptxt won the Appy Awards for Productivity and Horizon Interactive Awards Silver for Best Productivity App. Adaptxt has been built for a pan-global audience and supports over 120+ languages.

Xploree, the latest keyboard app built by KPT is an AI and NLP driven discovery platform that offers unified hyper-context and intent precision on multiple screens, multiple apps and in multiple languages.  Xploree will be the first ‘Made in India’ smart keyboard app that has taken predictions and discoveries to a whole new level.

KeyPoint currently has representation in key markets including U.S., UK, India, Japan and China and continues to grow with its latest innovation Xploree.

Are there plans on developing a stand-alone keyboard SDK that can be used by 3rd party app developers

We already have a stand-alone, off the shelf keyboard SDK available for the market and 3rd party developers. Currently, service is available only on request.

How many languages are currently supported by Xploree

Xploree supports 110+ global languages that includes 29 indic languages. Additionally, the smart keyboard also offers mix of languages such as Hinglish (English+Hindi) Tamlish (Tamil+Hindi), Bonglish (Bengali+English), etc.

Can Xploree work on low-cost Android handsets that have less RAM, less internal memory, etc. since there has been huge mobile penetration in tier-II, tier-III cities, rural areas, etc who might not have high-end phones.

Yes. We have considered those aspects while developing our product. Xploree works best with mobile phones with 1 GB RAM and android version 4.4 & above.

How according to you can brands [not only e-commerce] but advertisers, etc. utilize the growing eco-system of Xploree

By showing brand cards at the right time, Xploree brings brands and consumers closer. This happens whenever an intent is expressed on the keyboard. Even before the user types out his desire, Xploree’s smart algorithms capture user’s intent basis the context and matches them with relevant recommendations.

In other words, brands and advertisers will be sitting right there on the user’s keyboard waiting for a context to show up. Needless to say, Xploree’s growing user base which is close to 3 million currently will be the exposure bandwidth for brands and advertisers.

How has the response been for Xploree Keyboard on iOS [if it is available and if not, then any timeline on when it might be available]

Xploree is currently available only on Android-version 4.4 & above. So far, the responses have been overwhelming. Xploree on iOS will be out soon!

Xploree Keyboard app is available on Play Store & can be downloaded from here. If you have used the Xploree App, please leave your feedback/suggestions in the comments section.