What it means
Natural language processing covers any software that works with human language: classifying emails, finding names and dates in text, measuring sentiment, translating, summarizing and answering questions.
For years, each of these tasks needed its own specialized model. Large language models now handle most of them with the right instructions, which has made NLP far easier to apply in business.
Why it matters for a business
A large share of business information is written language: emails, tickets, reviews, contracts and notes. NLP turns that text into structured information you can sort, count and act on.
A business example
Things to watch
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Test on your own language, including slang and industry terms.
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Check performance in every language you serve.
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Keep people reviewing sensitive decisions.
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Watch for bias in how text is labeled.