What is the primary function of Natural Language Understanding (NLU)?

Natural Language Understanding (NLU) primarily focuses on handling communication between people and machines. This involves interpreting and processing human languages in a way that machines can understand and act upon. NLU encompasses a range of technologies and techniques that allow machines to comprehend the intent and meaning behind spoken or written language, enabling more natural interactions.

For example, NLU is used in applications like virtual assistants, chatbots, and customer support systems, where effective communication is crucial. It helps these systems to not only recognize words but also to understand context, sentiment, and the nuances of human language. By doing so, NLU enhances user experience by making interactions more intuitive and efficient.

The other options refer to different functions. Understanding data patterns pertains more to data analysis techniques rather than language interaction. Analyzing large datasets involves statistical methods and algorithms focused on data processing, which is distinct from the language-focused tasks of NLU. Translating languages may seem related, but it is a specific application of language processing rather than the broader function of understanding communication between machines and humans. Thus, option B captures the essence of NLU's primary role.