Natural Language Understanding (NLU) is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) that focuses on machine reading comprehension. NLU is about enabling computers to understand and interpret human language as it is spoken or written, recognizing the nuances, intent, and sentiment behind the words.
Unlike simpler forms of text analysis that only look for specific words or phrases, NLU aims to grasp the overall context and meaning of language. It’s not just about what is being said, but also how it’s being said, and what the underlying message or intent is.
NLU involves several complex processes:
In SEO, NLU is becoming increasingly important. Search engines like Google use NLU to better understand search queries and the content on web pages. This means that they can more accurately match search queries with relevant content, considering the intent and context of both the search and the content.
For content creators and SEO specialists, this means focusing not just on keywords but also on creating content that genuinely addresses the topics and questions that users are interested in. It’s about providing value and relevance in a way that aligns with how people naturally communicate and seek information.