Content generation using target content derived modeling and unsupervised language modeling

[0001] This application relates generally to AI-assisted techniques for content generation.

[0002] It is known in the prior art to provide network-accessible (e.g., web-based) editing applications that automatically detect grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, and style errors in writing text being composed by a user in an online text editor. One commercial solution of this type works using a browser-based extension that identifies and enables a user to correct writing errors as the user enters text, e.g., on Google® Gmail, Facebook®, Twitter®, etc., in a web page or form. While these techniques and technologies provide advantages, they suffer from various deficiencies.

[0003] State-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques have recently begun to leverage unsupervised, generative pre-trained language models. The most well-known of this type is Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3), which is an autoregressive language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text. It is the third-generation language prediction model in the OPT-n series and the successor to GPT-2) created by OpenAI an artificial intelligence research laboratory. GPT-3's full version has a capacity of billions of machine learning parameters. The current version was introduced in May 2020, and is part of a trend in natural language processing (NLP) systems of pre-trained language representations. Because GPT-3 has been trained on very large data sets, it is reported to have utility (and potential risk) for content generation-related tasks.

[0004] Content generation according to this disclosure leverages an unsupervised, generative pre-trained language model (e.g., a generative-AI). In this approach, a target content derived model, which is a model derived by applying to given content relevant competitive content and one or more optimization targets, is received. The given content typically is a user prompt, or a user prompt together with a knowledge graph of general facts, and the target content derived model includes topically-relevant content as identified from the given content. Based on optimization criteria encoded as embedding signals in the target content derived model, a determination is made regarding whether a template suitable for use as an input to the generative-AI exists in a set of templates. If a suitable template does exist, either the model embedding signals are merged into the template, or the template itself is transformed using the embedding signals, in either case creating a modified template. If, however, no template suitable as the input to the generative-AI exists, the model and other information are input to a natural language processor (NLP) algorithm to create a generative-AI input. Either the modified template or the generative-AI input, as the case may be, is then applied through the generative-AI to generate an output competitively-optimized with respect to the optimization targets. The output comprises generative AI-generated text. In one preferred implementation approach, the generative-AI language model is GTP-3.

[0005] According to several further aspects, the above-described content generation scheme may further include post-processing of the output, i.e., the generative AI-generated text. This post-processing may include fact-checking.

[0006] The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent features of the subject matter. These features should be construed to be merely illustrative. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed subject matter in a different manner or by modifying the subject matter as will be described.

[0019] By way of background, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a content editing technique according to this disclosure. In a typical but non-limiting client-server based implementation, a user is creating and inputting text into an editor, and that editor is executing as a client computer on the user's computing machine (a personal computer, laptop, tablet, other mobile device, Internet-of-Things (IoT) device, etc.). Typically, an editor is implemented as a client application, as a webpage (e.g., having form fields), or the like, and it provides a graphical user interface (GUI) by which a user can enter and edit text, all in a known manner. A back-end of the editing application executes in or in association with a server computing machine infrastructure, e.g., operating in a network-accessible location (e.g., a web server, a cloud infrastructure, or the like). The client computer displays (renders) the editor. As the user composes a document, he or she enters text in the editor and, as will be described below, the user receives feedback on his or her text entry while composing the document. The text entry and editing process preferably occurs in real-time (or near real-time).

[0020] A first operation is described by way of example. In this example, the user is creating a document that he or she desires to be “ranked” favorably by a search engine, such as Google. As is well known, search engine optimization (SEO) refers to various techniques that can be implemented to affect the online visibility of a website or a webpage in a search engine's results (typically unpaid results). In general, the earlier or higher-ranked on the search results page and more frequently a website or page appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users. In this example, and with reference to FIG. 1, it is assumed that the user is writing a document 100 that he or she desires to show up as highly-ranked in the search engine results (e.g., a Top 20 Google® search engine ranking). In FIG. 1, the document 100 being edited is associated with the user's client-side machine 101, with the remainder of the elements depicted being associated with a server-side application. Typically, the server-side application executes in a network-accessible services platform (described in more detail below). There is no requirement that the services platform be executed on a single machine, as the platform may comprise one or more machines, programs, processes and the like that are co-located or distributed, and one or more of such programs or processes may be accessed from the platform via one or more application programming interfaces to other machines, data sources and services that are external to the platform.

[0021] More generally, the document (or portion thereof) 100 is a “user-content portion” that is being generated by the user in real or near real-time. In this example, and as the user is generating the document, a method of content editing is implemented to provide feedback to the user, with a goal being that the user then edits his or her document (e.g., possibly based at least in part on this feedback) to provide a resulting document that (in this example scenario) may then end up with a higher search engine ranking. As will be described, this search engine ranking improvement is achieved by the system providing one or more editing recommendations that attempt to obtain a semantic breadth and depth that is comparable to third party content previously indexed by a search engine. To this end, as the user composes the document on his or her display screen, preferably one or more content editing recommendations are provided to the user in a non-interruptible manner (i.e., in a manner that does not interrupt the user as he or she is creating/editing the document), and preferably in a contextualized option menu, e.g., a sidebar to a main document editing window. This menu preferably updates in real- or near real-time as the user inputs text and that text is rendered in the editor. In an alternative embodiment, a recommendation is provided at least in part using another communication channel, such as audibly. Without intending to be limiting, a recommendation is provided in the form of one of: a grammar recommendation, a spelling check, a keyword recommendation, and a style recommendation. More generally, the recommendation can be considered “additional information” that is associated with the document during the creation process. Other types of additional information associated with the document may be a “score” that provides the user with a metric (or other indicator) that informs the user about some aspect of the writing (e.g., its readability). The particular nature and form of the recommendation or other information is not limiting and typically will be implementation-specific. In one embodiment, the additional information is a relevancy score (e.g., a number between 0-100) that represents an extent to which the edited text (and, in particular, a key phrase therein) is anticipated to obtain a semantic breadth and depth that is comparable to third party content previously indexed by a search engine.

[0022] By way of further background, a technique to align the semantic depth and breadth of the document text to third party content (such as that previously indexed by a search engine) leverages a notion of a “content model,” which is now described. Referring back to FIG. 1, such third party content is represented in this example by a set of key phrase target content portions 102. Each target content portion 102 is generated (or accessed) by the services platform, and in a representative example the target content portions represent sites (or pages thereof) from a search engine ranking (e.g., the Google Top 20 for a particular keyword search term) that have previously indexed by the search engine. According to this disclosure, each of the target content portions 102 has associated therewith a target content model 104 that represents a semantic fingerprint of the key phrase with respect to a particular piece of third party content. A key phrase may comprise one or more keywords. In a typical use case, the key phrase has been indexed by a search engine, with the search results (typically a set of web pages that include the key phrase) then processed by the platform into the target content model(s) as depicted. In particular, the first (or top) search result for the key phrase corresponds to the content portion 102a, and that content portion 102a is then processed by the platform (natively, or using a third party target content model generator) to generate the target content model 104a that corresponds to the content portion 102a. Similar target content models 104b and 104c are then derived for the second and third content portions 102b and 102c, respectively, and so on for each of a given number of target content portions in the search engine rankings.

[0023] Preferably, a target content model 104 as used herein is implemented as a sparse bit-pattern data representation, wherein a data representation of this type encodes language—and usage—information in a relatively long binary vector (which when folded in two dimensions becomes a vector grid or space) that has relatively few “active” bits. More generally, the language and usage information may be considered to be a semantic depth and breadth of the key phrase in question. The active bits in the vector represent a semantic fingerprint, and the data representation thus is a symbolic representation of the key phrase (or, more generally, of given text in the document). Two representations with the same or similar bits activated indicates a degree of semantic similarity with respect to the key phrases that are represented in each of the respective representations. Preferably, sparse bit-pattern data representations are generated in a format in which they are easily manipulated with respect to one another such that numerical computations (vector-based mathematical and Boolean operations, such as addition, subtraction, logical AND, OR, and the like) can be performed on respective representations in a computationally-efficient manner. In one non-limiting implementation, a data representation of this form may be obtained by parsing the input text comprising the key phrase, and numerically encoding a meaning of the text as a semantic fingerprint, wherein a particular bit on the resulting grid contains a portion of the meaning of the text.

[0024] Again with reference now back to FIG. 1, an editing operation is now described. As depicted, as the user generates the text of the document in the editor on the client-side, one or more content model(s) 106 are generated. A content model 106 also is a data representation for a particular piece of content in the document text. To enable the document to potentially achieve a better search engine ranking, the system operates by determining an extent to which the sparse bit-pattern data representations associated with the user's text favorably compares with the representations 104 for the previously-indexed target content portions 102 for the key phrase in question. In one embodiment, the target content portions are obtained by a scraping operation, but this is not a limitation.

[0025] As depicted in FIG. 1, in this embodiment this comparison is performed on a key phrase basis. In particular, preferably the target content model(s) 104 are consolidated into an aggregate target content model 108, which is shown as the target content derived model. In particular, and as depicted, the one or more target content models 104 derived from the search engine results (the ranking of the respective one or more target content portions 102) are combined using a vector operator into the target content derived model. In effect, the derived model 108 represents a type and degree of semantic depth and breadth that any document that hopes to achieve the high search engine ranking for the key phrase “must have” in order to obtain such a ranking. Thus, the target content derived model 108 then is compared to the one or more content model(s) 106 to evaluate the degree of overlap in meaning between the text that the user has entered into the editor (as represented by the content model(s) 106)) and how the corresponding key phrase impacts search engine results previously indexed (as instantiated in the derived model 108). The comparison between the content model and the derived model 108 typically is a vector operation (e.g., vector subtraction). The result of this comparison operation is a content-intent relevancy score 115 for the particular key phrase, and this result facilitates a determination by the system whether (and to what extent) the document needs to be changed or the text otherwise adjusted. Thus, based on the comparison (and the relevancy scoring), the system generates one or more content recommendations or additional information that is then output to the end user while he or she is editing the document. Given this real-time or near real-time feedback, the end user then edits the document appropriately. The process may then iterate as additional portions of the document are drafted.

[0026] In this example, a document that has been edited according to one or more content recommendations that are generated as a result of these semantic comparisons will then be expected to produce a higher search engine ranking.

[0027] There is no requirement that a content model be implemented in a sparse bit-pattern data representation, as there may be other types of vector-based representations (e.g., a Word2Vec model, other language encodings, etc.) that may be used as well. Generalizing, and as used herein the content model is any vector that includes information encoding semantic meaning of the relevant concept that a user has expressed an intent to include in the document.

[0028] There is no requirement that the content model comparison be carried out on the client-side or the server-side, as the particular vector operations typically are lightweight (computationally-speaking) and can be performed in either location. As noted above, the comparison operation may be iterated as the document is being drafted by the end user.

[0029] The nature and type of vector operations used to generate the target content derived model 108, or those that are used to compare that model with the content model 106, will vary depending on the purpose of the comparison being performed. In general, there will be one or more selection criteria that are used to determine the set of candidates that are used for the derived model. In FIG. 1, which is a non-limiting example, the selection criterion is the identification of a key phrase (or, more generally, a “concept” of interest) that a search engine has ranked highly previously. If, for example, a desired user intent 110 (see FIG. 1) is to show that all of the target content portions 102 include the particular concept at issue, then the vector operation will correspond to a “union” operation, and typically this will generate narrower set of results that end up instantiated in the derived model. On the other hand, if the intent is to identify a concept that is permissible to include, although perhaps not essential, a vector operation such as a logical OR may be used. Another option is to “weight” the concepts and then apply a particular type of weighting function to generate the derived model. Thus, here the notion of comparing vectors should be broadly construed, and the particular vector operations (on the sparse data representations) will depend on what the editor is being designed to optimize. More generally, the notion here is to generate a vector representation of a concept in the document being written, and then compare that representation to a derived model for the concept, typically as that concept has been found in text articles or the like. This comparison is done in real-time or near real-time to facilitate the generation of the one or more content editing recommendations.

[0030] As also depicted in FIG. 1, the determination of user intent 110 may be the user's input (in the document) of the key phrase, an attempt to validate the key phrase (as an intent suggestion), or otherwise. As also depicted, the process of selecting the content portions 102 may be based on user-input and user-intent. In the example described, a sample selection assumption is that the search engine is rewarding content-intent matchings with higher rankings in relevant search results. This is not a limitation, as the content modeling semantic profiling and comparison methodology described above (which, in FIG. 1 is used to derive search intent) may also be used for other use cases, which are now described.

[0031] A first variant involves “engagement” and, in particular, whether the text in the document being drafted is expected to drive a higher end user engagement (with the topic or concept in question). In this example, a sample selection assumption is that users engage more with target content that receives better user content metrics, such as social shares, bounce rates, time on page, and so forth. In this embodiment, and in lieu of generating a content-intent (key phrase) relevancy score 115, the outcome of the comparison between the content model and the derived content model is a content-engagement relevancy score.

[0032] Another variant is “conversion” and, in particular, whether the document is expected to drive a higher conversion rate (e.g., for whatever product or service is being described) and this, in turn, may be assumed to depend on whether a particular concept (e.g., “safety” if the document is about a car seat) is included. In this example, a sample selection assumption is that content that receives paid promotion over a certain period of time (and perhaps with a certain budget), is content that successfully converts, and that generates a positive return on investment (ROI). In this embodiment, the content model comparisons generate a content-conversion optimization relevancy score.

[0033] With the above as background, the following section provides a description of various process flows that are implemented in accordance with one practical embodiment. These process flows typically are implemented as software, namely, as a set of computer programs executed in one or more processing or other computing entities. While the various process flows described below depict distinct steps and objects, it should be appreciated that this visualization is for explanatory purposes and is not intended to be limiting. Various steps may be combined or carried out in different sequences, etc., all without altering the intent.

[0034] FIG. 2 depicts another view of the process flow of an algorithm used to score keywords for relevancy against the content that the user is writing. The flows in FIGS. 1 and 2 thus are similar. In FIG. 2, the process starts with a known key phrase 200 for which the article being composed is to be optimized. Competitive research 202 is then performed with respect to the key phrase, e.g., by examining best ranking articles from Google, most popular products returned from Amazon®, or similar information from other such search engines. The particular source of the competitive research (Google, Amazon, etc.) typically depends on the nature of the content being authored in the editor. During this process, the algorithm may leverage other selection criteria. Irrespective of what research source(s) are used, the system ends up with a set of results (typically URLs) 204 that constitute a number of high-performance competitive content sources. The notion of high-performance means that the sources return high search rankings. These content sources are then used as the foundation for further analysis/research.

[0035] In particular, and as depicted, the system then performs additional research to attempt to ascertains why that content ranked well (high). To that end, at 206 the system extracts (from the URLs) those pages that have the content to produce “n” key phrase relevant content portions 208, and associated metadata for each content portion (e.g., how highly a given content portion is ranked, its number of social shares, etc.). Thus, if there are twenty (20) content sources, typically the system outputs the same number of content portions for further analysis. Step 208 represents data mining operations for the competitive content sources that have been identified, and this mining results in “n” data sets 210 for the competitive content sources. For each of the key phrase relevant content portions 211 (e.g. 1 through “n”), the system then performs an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based content analysis 212 that looks for semantic understanding/meanings in the content portion(s). The output of the AI-based content analysis for a particular content portion is a content model 214, typically in the form of a 2D vector (a pixel grid), which is sometimes referred to herein as a fingerprint. If a semantic meaning is present in the content portion, it is represented in the fingerprint (typically as a pixel); if, however, the meaning is not present in the content portion, it is not represented in the fingerprint. The result is a set of “n” content models, with a content model output for each particular content portion. At step 216, these models are then compared and weighted with respect to one another, typically based on the metadata, e.g., a “1” ranked article gets more traffic than a “20” ranked article, and thus should have a higher weight. This information is then factored in to create a target content derived model (fingerprint) 218, which is preferably an AND-based model representing that a particular concept is present (or most likely present). The target content derived model 218 thus represents all (or substantially all) of the concepts that an article being composed must have, because (as the AI-based analysis has established) all of the highly-ranked articles have these concept(s) in common. Stated another way, if a particular concept is not present in the user's article being composed, the article will lack a concept that the relevant search engine in effect likes to see, e.g., that the search engine must have considered necessary for the article (content source) to have been so highly-ranked in the first instance.

[0036] As the bottom portion of the drawing shows, key phrase relevancy scoring is then carried out with respect to a particular user content portion 220 by simply comparing a content model 224 derived therefrom (e.g., using another AI-based content analysis 212) against the AND-based model 218, thereby producing a key phrase relevancy score 228 for the user content portion 220. If the content being composed includes the key phrases, the score will be higher; if one of more phrases are not present, however, then the score will be lower. Based on the key phrase relevancy scoring, the user can then make appropriate adjustments to the content being composed.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts a process flow for feature scoring user content for a key phrase. As depicted, it should be noted that several of the operations in the drawing correspond to those in the prior figure, namely, reference numerals 300, 302, 304, 306, 307, 308, 310, 311 and 320 (which generally correspond to reference numerals 200, 202, 204, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211 and 220 in FIG. 2). In lieu of the AI-based content analysis, however, in FIG. 3, steps 312 involve feature extraction. The output of this extraction then is a target feature set 314, and the feature sets are analyzed against the competitive data sets and optimization criteria at step 316, with the result being a target features set 318. The features set 318 is then used for feature set comparison 326 to generate user content target feature set scores 328.

[0038] Thus, and as depicted, the feature extraction process technique in FIG. 3 preferably begins with a key phrase. Typically, the technique is not used to determine how many words should be used (what is a good word count), what should be the sentiment of the article, what is a reading grade level the article should target, etc. Rather, preferably the algorithm performs feature extraction, comparing features, and making a recommendation based on that comparison.

[0039] The process begins with a key phrase and, similar to the processing described above with respect to FIG. 2, the algorithm preferably looks at the search engine top results to identify the high-performing competitive content sources, derives the content portions and their metadata, etc., to obtain the n key-phrase relevant content portions. The 1 through “n” content portions are then analyzed, in this algorithm using feature extraction, to generate a target feature set for each key phrase relevant content portion. As further depicted, the target feature sets are then analyzed with respect to one another, e.g., using an iterative predictive modeling technique, to produce a target features set. One technique for creating the target features set uses a data science-based predictive modeling approach to study how well the system can predict search engine rank based on a scoring of a particular features set. For example, the system takes a particular combination of features and their relative weights (a certain word count, a certain reading level, etc.), and derives an initial prediction (e.g., a score) regarding the feature set; the system then studies how closely the prediction aligns with a real search engine ranking based on the feature set. The result of that analysis is a baseline correlation; the relative weightings are then adjusted and the process is repeated for the feature set, through many iterations. Thereafter, the best scoring feature sets (namely, those that best align with the search engine rankings) are then selected as the target features set. This modeling thus output the best feature set, as well as the data that identifies the impact of each such feature a final search engine ranking.

[0040] As shown at the bottom of the drawing, feature scoring of the user content for a key phrase is then carried out with respect to a particular user content portion, typically by simply comparing a user content target feature set derived from content being written in the editor with the target features set derived using the data science-based modeling, with the result being a set of user content target feature set scores. Based on the feature scoring, the user can then make appropriate adjustments to the content being composed.

[0041] FIG. 4a depicts a first key phrase suggestion algorithm that depicts how the system uses the user's text (being composed in the editor) to recommend keywords that the user should be using; FIG. 4b (referenced by the figure map) depicts a second (variant) algorithm to this end that uses a more complex selection process as compared to the simple approach (relevancy-based) in FIG. 4a. As depicted in FIG. 4a, the user content portion 400 is analyzed (using known AI-based techniques) to perform key phrase extraction 402. One or more key phrase suggestions 404 are then generated. These are words that are actually present in the document being composed. The algorithm also preferably takes as input any key phrase suggestions 406 that are entered by the user by direct user input, e.g., using a sidebar panel on the editor. At step 408, the system then looks up related key phrases, e.g., using the Google keyword input tool, to generate an even larger set of “n” related key phrase suggestions 410. These suggestions thus are considered to be related to the user content portion either by being actually present or possibly present (based on direct user input). For each of the keywords, the system calculates a relevancy model 412 (as described above with respect to FIG. 2), with the results then being compared to the user content portion for relevancy scoring purposes. The most relevant key phrases 416 are then selected (via selection process 414) and returned to the user to complete the process.

[0042] The approach in FIG. 4a thus expands the possible keywords, performs a basic relevancy analysis, and returns a selection. The expanded list of possible keywords preferably is updated in real-time as the user is writing, although this is not required.

[0043] FIG. 4b (the composite of FIG. 4b-1 and FIG. 4b-2) depicts an alternative key phrase suggestion algorithm, which has the same goal as the previous algorithm, but it is more complex. This approach takes into consideration the target domain (where the article is expected to be published).

[0044] FIG. 5a depicts an algorithm for calculating which categories/topics that the user content being drafted is lacking. The output of this algorithm is a set of topics that the user content currently lacks. With this information, the user can then modify his or her content to attempt to achieve a higher relevancy score. To this end, the approach compares a content model derived from the user's content portion to topic-based model (the AND fingerprint representing the must have key phrases) to identify what topic(s) are lacking. The comparison typically is performed by subtracting the content model derived from the user content portion from the key phrase model. The result is a content model of what the user content portion is lacking. That model is then compared for similarity against a set of “n” topic models (typically one per topic) to identify the “m” topics for which the user content portion is current lacking.

[0045] In particular, and as shown in FIG. 5b, “n” key phrases for which it is desired to optimize the user content portion 500 are applied through key phrase relevancy scoring 502 (as in FIG. 2) to generate “n” key phrase models 504. The models are compared 506 to generate preferably one (1) key phrase model 508 for the user content portion. The user content portion 509 is also processed through the AI-based content analysis 510 (as previously described) to generate a content model 512. That content model 512 is subtracted (at 514) from the 1 key phrase model 508 for the user content portion 509 to generate a content model 516 corresponding to what the user content portion is lacking. Content model 516 is then compared with “n” topic models 518 (preferably one per topic). In particular, a similarity comparison 520 outputs “m” topics 522 for which the user content portion lacks. Preferably, one or more conference ratings are attached to the topic outputs 522.

[0046] FIG. 5b depicts an algorithm for creating the “n” topic models 524 (used in FIG. 5a) representing topical classifications. To that end, the system crawls a large database of content portions on all topics and extracts topical classification(s). This operation is typically performed during a training stage and need not be repeated. Using an AI-based content analysis 526, “n” content models 528 are created from the content portions. The content models are then organized by topical classification to create a topic model per topic, typically based on features similarity, with the result being the “n” topic models (one per topic) 530. To this end, a topical classification extraction 532 generates “n” topical classifications 534, which at step 536 are then processed based on feature similarity as described.

[0047] FIG. 6 depicts a process flow for an algorithm that identifies (to the user) “entity” suggestions to improve topical coverage. In particular, this algorithm provides suggestions for how the user—with knowledge about which topics are lacking (from the techniques described above with respect to FIGS. 5a and 5b)—can then modify his or her content to obtain a higher relevancy score. The depicted algorithm typically is executed for every topic that has been identified as lacking. The process starts with the same content identified (scrapped and analyzed) in the key phrase relevancy scoring. That content is split into sub-portions (e.g., paragraphs, although this is not a limitation) to generate “m” key phrase relevant content sub-portions. Each key-phrase sub-portions is then taken through an AI-based content analysis to generate a target content model for that sub-portion. The topic model for which it is desired to optimize the user content is then compared with these models for topical relevancy. The most topically-relevant key phrase content portions are then selected. Entity extraction is then performed, e.g., using known techniques. This creates a candidate list of entities to suggest to the user to include in the article to optimize relevancy score for a topic. Finally, the algorithm compares the list of entities to suggest with those that are determined to already exist in the article, with the difference then being output as the list of suggested entities.

[0048] The editor may provide links to provide the user an ability to learn more about an entity. A curation engine may also be used in association with the editor to obtain links (to present to the user) that provide examples of how other authors have written about these entities, and to present to the user an associated sentiment analysis regarding such usage.

[0049] FIGS. 7a and 7b together depict an algorithm for calculating broad topical coverage. This algorithm is designed to augment the algorithm in FIG. 2 (describing the “must have” AND fingerprint), and instead describes a technique to generate a more broad-based fingerprint (an OR fingerprint). The notion here is to try to obtain a broader sphere of concepts that potentially impact relevancy. This fingerprint enables the system to determine whether the content being authored is at least broadly relevant. As depicted, there are three (3) basic aspects: what percentage of the text is broadly relevant, and which is broadly not relevant. Preferably, this analysis is based on sub-portion analysis. The model preferably is very forgiving, namely, to only inform users when they stray or go too far “off-topic.” The algorithm compares the user's article with competitive articles (preferably using the OR-based approach that is computed from the broad model), and determines if and how the user's content goes off-topic. The editor then highlights the sub-portion(s) that are deemed most problematic so that appropriate corrections can be made. In an alternative, and in addition to (or in lieu of) looking at sub-portions, the algorithm may be carried out with respect to the article as a whole.

[0050] The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-7 has focused on semantic relevancy (typically semantic depth and breadth) as the technique used to train the AI, and to score author content, such as key phrases. As previously noted, however, this approach is not a limitation, as other types of content insights besides (or in addition to) semantic relevancy may be leveraged. Thus, and as suggested above, another type of content insight model that may be built and used is based on an emotion-based modeling, such as the notion of emotive conjugations. An emotive or emotional conjugation illustrates one's tendency to describe his or her own behavior more charitably than the behavior of others. A model that is built on emotive conjugation scoring would then identify highly performing content based at least in part, on an author's need or desire to be a member of a particular group. In effect, this type of modeling thus seeks to identify a language of truth for a particular context. Still another type of content insight may be a persuasion-based model that seeks high performing content that has certain characteristics or qualities, such as the ability to drive conversions (conversion optimization).

[0051] Thus, according to a more general aspect, the system reads particular content, compares that content to “highly-performing” (according to some metric, attribute and/or characteristic) content associated with one or more content insights (e.g., semantic relevancy, emotional relevancy, persuasion relevancy, etc., and combinations thereof), and provides feedback (recommendations, suggestions, edits, and the like) all in the manner described above.

[0052] Further, although one embodiment described herein involves content authoring through an end user-based content editor, the AI-supported techniques herein also have broader applicability. Thus, for example, in another embodiment a website (or other application) accesses the AI system described (e.g., via an API), and the AI is executed against the site's own content (e.g., an article database) to return (output) relevant content insights, e.g., content recommendations. Thus, for example, the system may be used to provide automated content production based on AI-driven content insights. Thus, the techniques herein may be implemented in association with a content management or other publication systems, methods and products.

[0053] Thus, and as used herein, a “content editor” may encompass both an end user-based editor (such as a browser-based plug-in), as well as automated content management techniques that generate content recommendations using the AI-supported techniques described above. As a corollary, the notion of rendering a content recommendation may involve outputting recommendation on an editor display, providing outputs from automated processing, and the like.

[0054] The techniques described herein provide a real-time web content optimization platform and tool that gives writers control over their content's organic search destiny. The techniques herein enable any and all users (e.g., writers, WordPress users, non-SEO experts, and others) to self-optimize and edit content through an easy-to-use, AI powered app and plugin. The approach herein including the platform's optimization scoring system ranks keyword competitiveness, e.g., based on a scan of the digital landscape that the tool uses to compare similar articles to the one article being written. Scores rise as content creators knockout simple prioritized tasks that take the guesswork out of search engine optimization. With the techniques as described herein, writers are able to optimize content for search prior to pressing “publish,” giving articles and blog posts a head-start on being found without sacrificing writing style.

Leveraging Generative AI

[0055] While the above-described techniques provide significant advantages, the following portions of this disclosure provide for several variants, extensions and generalizations.

[0056] According to a first extension, it is desired to use a generative-AI to create content and, in particular, using the target content derived model described above. FIG. 8 depicts this general process. As shown, a target content derived model 800 is applied as an input to the generative-AI 802 to produce an output 804, namely, what is referred to herein as “generative-AI generated text.” While applying the target content derived model 800 directly as input is possible, a preferred approach is now described and depicted in the process flow shown in FIG. 9.

[0057] In particular, FIG. 9 depicts a method of content generation that leverages generative-AI, such as GPT-3. The technique herein is not limited to GPT-3, as other unsupervised language models may be utilized. The process begins at step 900 with generation of the target content derived model. That process has been described in detail above. As noted, typically the target content derived model is a model that is derived by applying a given content relevant competitive content and one or more optimization targets. As also explained above, the given content typically is a user prompt, or a user prompt together with a knowledge graph of general facts, and the target content derived model includes topically-relevant content as identified from those inputs. The one or more optimization targets may vary, but typically they include search engine optimization (SEO), semantic relevance, accuracy, engagement, emotion, conversion, style, tone and voice. At step 902, a target content derived model is received for further processing, namely, content generation using the GPT-3 language model. Steps 900 and 902 may be combined and represent a unitary operation. According to this disclosure, this content generation preferably involves pre-processing the target content derived model itself to generate an appropriate input to the generative-AI. This pre-processing is not always necessary, but it is now described in a representative implementation.

[0058] As further shown in FIG. 9, upon generation and receipt of the target content derived model, a test is then performed at step 904. This step determines whether a template suitable for input to the generative-AI is available from a set of templates preconfigured for this purpose. In general, a template is a data structure used as input for an AI generator. A template can take on different forms depending on the type of generative AI. The outcome of the test at step 904 (i.e., whether a suitable template exists) is based on one or more optimization criteria, which are typically encoded as embedding signals in the target content derived model. More formally, an embedding corresponds to a vector representing target content. Numeric features of this vector are responsible for interpretable properties, such as emotions, language, etc., as well as non-interpretable ones. This embedding can be named as signals extracted from target content. Thus, the embeddings can become signals for optimization targets.

[0059] If the outcome of the test at step 904 indicates a suitable template does exist, the process flow branches to step 906. At step 906, a modified/updated template is created from the template, either by merging the target content derived model embedding signals into the template, or by transforming the template using the embedding signals. In the alternative, and when the outcome of the test at step 904 indicates that no suitable in the template set exists, control branches to step 908, wherein the target content derived model, together with potentially other information, is input to a natural language processor (NLP) algorithm, which in turn uses those inputs to generate an input for the generative-AI. At step 910, which is reached either from step 906 or from step 908, either the modified template (created at step 906) or the generative AI-input (created at step 908) is then applied through the generative-AI itself to generate an output. That output comprises the desired generative-AI generated text. Because this process uses the target content derived model as a source input, the output itself is competitively-optimized with respect to the one or more optimization targets.

[0060] The above-described process flow may be augmented, e.g., as follows. In one variant, the output generated by the generative-AI is itself scored with respect to the target content derived model. That scoring may then be used to facilitate further training of the NLP algorithm. In another variant, the generative AI-generated text (the output) is post-processed. A representative post-processing stage may be fact-checking. According to another variant, the pre-processing of the target derived content model may also be carried out by first transforming that model into a knowledge graph, and then processing the knowledge graph to generate one or more statements that become the input applied through the generative-AI.

[0061] The particular manner by which the target content derived model is actually generated is not a limitation of this disclosure. In the preferred approach, and as described above, one preferred technique involves processing a content model derived from the given content to a set of content models derived from the relevant competitive content to generate a semantic relevance score.

[0062] There are many use cases where it is desired to automate the writing or re-writing of text in a certain voice, tone, and/or style, or to satisfy some other optimization target. By using the target derived content model—which is itself created based on one or more such optimization targets—as input to the generative-AI, significant benefits are achieved, as the generative AI-output itself is then competitively-optimized. The particular use cases are not limiting but may be of various types. These include, without limitation, headline generators, content editors, content generators that attempt to emulate voice, tone and/or style, and many others.

[0063] The content generation may be augmented with additional tools, e.g., an automatic image search and retrieval, whereby the user creating an article can search for and locate images that may be relevant to the content being generated.

[0064] The process flows described above in FIGS. 8-9 are implemented in computer software executing in one or more computing platforms, machines, and the like.

[0065] The above-described techniques may be conveniently combined. In one example, namely, the providing of SEO insights, the techniques such as described in FIGS. 1-7 may be used to surface (to a user) competitive content that the system has determined to be relevant to input content being generated by the user. That competitive content may be categorized according to some metric, e.g., to identify which segments of the competitive content have the highest likelihood of improving the topical (or other) relevance of the user's content. Based on this categorization, the user may then elect to do an AI-rewrite, with the result then inserted into the user's text. In this embodiment, the AI-rewrite leverages the generative AI functionality described above.

[0066] In another example use case, the user is performing content editing (or other content review) in an interface screen, e.g., with the user's cursor in a headline. The user then expresses some intent to write with AI, and this triggers the generative AI features described. In this example, a template is adapted based on competitive research and the user content so far, and a new headline is then automatically generated using this adapted template as the input to the generative-AI. Of course, the techniques herein are not limited to headline generation, as the approach herein of infusing insights derived from the text generated with competitive data into AI-generative action, can be used whether the writing is a bullet point, an introductory paragraph, a headline, a sub-headline, or any other content.

[0067] The tool may provide visual cues to the user. For example, as the user generates text (e.g., an article), an associated search engine shows competitive sites and their sub-headlines, paragraphs, etc. As noted above, the search results are derived by searching (e.g., what Google) ranks highly, and then scraping those sites. Using the AI functionality, the results are ranked, and visual cues inform the user whether the ideas are semantically covered in the article. Representative cues may be green (means the ideas are semantically covered), yellow (means the ideas are partly covered), and gray (means the ideas are not covered), etc. The visual cues are optional. The user may then select any of this third party content (e.g., a paragraph), and the editor then quotes that paragraph into the user's own article (e.g., at the current cursor position), and potentially adds an attribution. The editor preferably also includes a button or the like that enables the user to add the segment to his or her copy, but after the AI rewrites the competing paragraph to change the expression while retaining the idea. This enables the user to cover the idea semantically while avoiding copying of any protected expression.

[0068] In another example case, assume that the user is entering text and expresses an intent to write with AI. This determination may be based on one of: a cursor position, some user text selection, the article content input so far, a selected editor style (e.g., bullet, paragraph, headline, sub-headline, etc.), or if the user has already entered a keyword and, if so, competitive source information, etc. In one example, the system determines that the cursor indicates that the user desires an introductory paragraph. When a keyword is known, the system obtains what introductory paragraphs look like in successful competitors (from an SEO perspective) for this keyword, and perhaps what ton of voice, emotion and/or semantic coverage that such third party introductory paragraphs contain. Using the approach herein, e.g., choosing the right template and subsequently merging insights (e.g., the template based on competitive research, user content so far, etc.), the AI generates a best possible introductory paragraph for the user.

[0069] In a more specific example, the user cursor is in a headline. The user expresses an intent to write with AI. An appropriate template is selected/obtained and the headline is written. Competitive research (using the approach described herein) is then conducted. The template is then adapted based on the results of the competitive research, user content so far, etc., and a new or modified headline is written.

[0070] The above example use cases are not intended to be limited.

Enabling Technologies

[0071] As noted above, the editor may be implemented in whole or in part as a native application in the client, a browser function, as a browser-based plug-in, a client-side script, in an applet or other executable code, or the like. It may be implemented as an automated program or process.

[0072] The server-side processing is implemented in whole or in part by one or more web servers, application servers, database services, and associated databases, data structures, and the like.

[0073] One or more functions of the computing platform of this disclosure may be implemented in a cloud-based architecture. As is well-known, cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. Available services models that may be leveraged in whole or in part include: Software as a Service (SaaS) (the provider's applications running on cloud infrastructure); Platform as a service (PaaS) (the customer deploys applications that may be created using provider tools onto the cloud infrastructure); Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) (customer provisions its own processing, storage, networks and other computing resources and can deploy and run operating systems and applications).

[0074] The platform may comprise co-located hardware and software resources, or resources that are physically, logically, virtually and/or geographically distinct. Communication networks used to communicate to and from the platform services may be packet-based, non-packet based, and secure or non-secure, or some combination thereof.

[0075] More generally, the techniques described herein are provided using a set of one or more computing-related entities (systems, machines, processes, programs, libraries, functions, or the like) that together facilitate or provide the described functionality described above. In a typical implementation, a representative machine on which the software executes comprises commodity hardware, an operating system, an application runtime environment, and a set of applications or processes and associated data, that provide the functionality of a given system or subsystem. As described, the functionality may be implemented in a standalone machine, or across a distributed set of machines.

[0076] Typically, but without limitation, a client device is a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or wearable computing device. Such a device comprises a CPU (central processing unit), computer memory, such as RAM, and a drive. The device software includes an operating system (e.g., Google® Android™, or the like), and generic support applications and utilities. The device may also include a graphics processing unit (GPU). The mobile device also includes a touch-sensing device or interface configured to receive input from a user's touch and to send this information to processor. The touch-sensing device typically is a touch screen. The mobile device comprises suitable programming to facilitate gesture-based control, in a manner that is known in the art.

[0077] Generalizing, the mobile device is any wireless client device, e.g., a cellphone, pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA, e.g., with GPRS NIC), a mobile computer with a smartphone client, or the like. Other mobile devices in which the technique may be practiced include any access protocol-enabled device (e.g., an Android™-based device, or the like) that is capable of sending and receiving data in a wireless manner using a wireless protocol. Typical wireless protocols are: WiFi, GSM/GPRS, CDMA or WiMax. These protocols implement the ISO/OSI Physical and Data Link layers (Layers 1 & 2) upon which a traditional networking stack is built, complete with IP, TCP, SSL/TLS and HTTP.

[0078] In a representative embodiment, the mobile device is a cellular telephone that operates over GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), which is a data technology for GSM networks. In addition to a conventional voice communication, a given mobile device can communicate with another such device via many different types of message transfer techniques, including SMS (short message service), enhanced SMS (EMS), multi-media message (MMS), email, WAP, paging, or other known or later-developed wireless data formats. Generalizing, a mobile device as used herein is a 3G—(or next generation) compliant device that includes a subscriber identity module (SIM), which is a smart card that carries subscriber-specific information, mobile equipment (e.g., radio and associated signal processing devices), a man-machine interface (MMI), and one or more interfaces to external devices (e.g., computers, PDAs, and the like). The techniques disclosed herein are not limited for use with a mobile device that uses a particular access protocol. The mobile device typically also has support for wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies, such as Wi-Fi. WLAN is based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

[0079] The underlying network transport may be any communication medium including, without limitation, cellular, wireless, Wi-Fi, small cell (e.g., femto), and combinations thereof.

[0080] Each above-described process preferably is implemented in computer software as a set of program instructions executable in one or more processors, as a special-purpose machine.

[0081] Representative machines on which the subject matter herein is provided may be Intel Pentium-based computers running a Linux or Linux-variant operating system and one or more applications to carry out the described functionality. One or more of the processes described above are implemented as computer programs, namely, as a set of computer instructions, for performing the functionality described.

[0082] While the above describes a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that such order is exemplary, as alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, or the like. References in the specification to a given embodiment indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

[0083] While the disclosed subject matter has been described in the context of a method or process, the subject matter also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be a particular machine that is specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a computer otherwise selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including an optical disk, a CD-ROM, and a magnetic-optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic or optical card, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

[0084] A given implementation of the computing platform is software that executes on a hardware platform running an operating system such as Linux. A machine implementing the techniques herein comprises a hardware processor, and non-transitory computer memory holding computer program instructions that are executed by the processor to perform the above-described methods.

[0085] The functionality may be implemented with other application layer protocols besides HTTP/HTTPS, or any other protocol having similar operating characteristics.

[0086] There is no limitation on the type of computing entity that may implement the client-side or server-side of the connection. Any computing entity (system, machine, device, program, process, utility, or the like) may act as the client or the server.

[0087] While given components of the system have been described separately, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that some of the functions may be combined or shared in given instructions, program sequences, code portions, and the like. Any application or functionality described herein may be implemented as native code, by providing hooks into another application, by facilitating use of the mechanism as a plug-in, by linking to the mechanism, and the like.

[0088] The platform functionality may be co-located or various parts/components may be separately and run as distinct functions, perhaps in one or more locations (over a distributed network).

[0089] In one embodiment, models are generated in the cloud and processed in the editor, with the data for a particular key phrase or target content portion preferably being stored in a cloud data store. In this manner, computational and processing efficiencies are provided, enabling the editor to be updated and to provide insights in real-time as the end user is authoring content. Over time, and as many users access and use the system, the cloud data store comprises a knowledge base of content models that can then be leveraged for other types of applications and insights. The cloud data store itself can also be used to train a model calculation method that can be embedded inside the editor locally.

[0090] AI-based analysis herein typically involves deep learning, e.g., training and using a deep neural network, with results thereof additionally processed by statistical modeling if needed.

[0091] The content performance optimization techniques herein are not necessarily limited for use on text (key-phrases). The approach herein may be used to work on any type of content (e.g., Instagram images) regardless of format.