Southeast Asia comprises a rich tapestry of cultures, languages and perspectives. At Google and AI Singapore, we believe that building a more inclusive AI future means embracing this diversity and empowering communities across the region. To further this vision, we recently partnered to host the Project SEALD Language Summit at Google Singapore, bringing together a passionate group of AI experts and researchers from across Southeast Asia.

Celebrating Diversity and Collaboration

The summit was a vibrant celebration of Southeast Asia’s unique cultural heritage. We started with a unique icebreaker, where participants introduced themselves through culturally representative image prompts. These ranged from local practices and customs to culturally significant landmarks such as Wat Arun depicted below:

Amplifying Southeast Asian Voices in AI

AI Singapore and Google are committed to building AI models that truly understand and respect the nuances of the Southeast Asian languages and cultures. During the summit, we provided some exciting updates on our cultural data collection efforts under Project SEALD. Professor Mitesh Khapra from IIT Madras shared AI4Bharat’s inspiring journey to capture language data from India’s 22 official languages, highlighting common challenges and strategies used to ensure linguistic representation.

Paving the Way for More Inclusive AI

Summit participants then came together to share latest developments in their local AI ecosystems, delving into the rapid advancements seen in LLM capabilities, and the unique challenges and opportunities these pose for Southeast Asia. A lively roundtable discussion followed, including open conversations on existing data gaps, copyright issues, and cultural sensitivity in AI development.

A Shared Commitment to Collaboration

The summit reinforced the power of collaboration in driving innovation. The connections forged and knowledge shared during the event have laid the groundwork for future partnerships that will empower communities across Southeast Asia to harness the transformative potential of AI.

Summit Attendees

We are honored to have welcomed a diverse group of experts and researchers at the summit:

• Ateneo De Manila University: Prof. Maria Regina Estuar
• Bandung Institute of Technology: Dr. Ayu Purwarianti
• IIT Madras: Prof. Mitesh M. Khapra
• IMDA: Sharmini Johnson
• KASIKORN Business-Technology Group: Thadpong Pongthawornkamol and Patcharin Areewong
• KORIKA: Andreas Tjendra
• BRIN: M. Teduh Uliniansyah
• IndoNLP: Dr. Alham Fikri Aji
• Siam Commercial Bank: Mukaya Panich, Kasima Tharnpipitchai and Thanapong Boontaeng
• Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology: Assoc. Prof. Sarana Nutanong

We extend our gratitude to all attendees for their active participation in the summit. Your contributions are invaluable to building a more inclusive AI future for Southeast Asia.

Join Us on this Journey

We invite you to join us on this exciting journey towards a more inclusive AI future in Southeast Asia. Explore the Project SEALD webpage to learn more about this initiative and discover how you can get involved. Together, we hope to pave the path towards more inclusive AI that better reflects the rich diversity and vibrant cultures of our region.