In a significant move to promote linguistic diversity and inclusion in the digital world, the United Nations has launched a new initiative to encourage tech companies to prioritize multilingualism in artificial intelligence (AI) development.
The UN’s new initiative, dubbed “Language Equality in the Digital Age,” aims to address the growing concern that AI systems are being developed with a bias towards dominant languages, such as English, Chinese, and Spanish. This bias can result in AI systems that are unable to understand or communicate with people who speak minority languages, exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities.
“The digital divide is not just about access to technology, it’s also about access to information and opportunities in one’s own language,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “We must ensure that AI systems are designed to promote linguistic diversity and inclusion, rather than perpetuating existing inequalities.”
The UN is urging tech companies to take several key steps to promote linguistic diversity in AI development, including:
– _Incorporating multilingualism into AI design_: Tech companies should prioritize the development of AI systems that can understand and communicate in multiple languages.
– _Providing language support for minority languages_:
Tech companies should provide language support for minority languages, including those that are not widely spoken or recognized.
– _Ensuring language accessibility in AI-powered services_: Tech companies should ensure that AI-powered services, such as virtual assistants and language translation tools, are accessible to people who speak minority languages.
The UN’s initiative has been welcomed by language rights advocates and tech companies, who recognize the importance of promoting linguistic diversity and inclusion in the digital world.
“Language is a fundamental aspect of human identity and culture,” said Dr. Jennifer Dahanayake, a language rights advocate. “We must ensure that AI systems are designed to promote linguistic diversity and inclusion, rather than perpetuating existing inequalities.”
The UN’s initiative is part of a broader effort to promote linguistic diversity and inclusion in the digital world. The organization has also launched a new online platform, called “Language Equality,” which provides resources and tools for promoting linguistic diversity and inclusion in AI development.
