Experts Collaborate to Advance AI Applications for Arabic Language

The third annual conference of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language included intensive sessions focused on new ideas to enrich linguistic data in a digital world (King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language)
The third annual conference of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language included intensive sessions focused on new ideas to enrich linguistic data in a digital world (King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language)
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Experts Collaborate to Advance AI Applications for Arabic Language

The third annual conference of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language included intensive sessions focused on new ideas to enrich linguistic data in a digital world (King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language)
The third annual conference of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language included intensive sessions focused on new ideas to enrich linguistic data in a digital world (King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language)

International experts from 22 countries have met in Riyadh for two days to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the Arabic language's role globally and regionally.

The conference highlighted Arabic as an important language in various scientific and humanitarian fields.

The third annual conference of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language included intensive sessions focused on new ideas to enrich linguistic data in a digital world.

Several digital initiatives were launched under the theme “Computational Linguistics and Enrichment of Linguistic Data.”

Around 40 researchers from universities and organizations worldwide attended the event, providing a platform for sharing expertise and advancing knowledge in computational linguistics.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, Secretary-General of the Academy, stated that languages that endure are those that adapt to written forms. He stressed that future languages must embrace technology and AI to thrive.

In his opening remarks, Al-Washmi described the conference as a valuable opportunity for collaboration among experts. He emphasized the importance of sharing ideas that can lead to a brighter future for the Arabic language in the digital age.

The conference aims to foster cooperation between linguists and AI specialists to close knowledge gaps and enhance Arabic linguistic data for better AI models.



Monkey Business Delays Sri Lanka's Wildlife Survey

Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
TT
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Monkey Business Delays Sri Lanka's Wildlife Survey

Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP

Sri Lanka is withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, because data collected from some farmers appeared unrealistic, a minister said on Monday.

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakodi said authorities had begun a review of the nationwide survey conducted on March 15, the first of its kind, because "some of the data was unbelievable".

Authorities suggested some enraged farmers might have exaggerated the numbers to suggest that the problem was even bigger, AFP reported.

Data in some places appeared "unusually high", officials said.

Residents across the island country were asked to count wild boar, peacocks, monkeys and lorises -- a small, largely nocturnal primate -- spotted near farms and homes during a five-minute period.

"We started the survey to understand the size of the problem," Jayakodi told reporters in Colombo. "But we now have to review the results... there have been issues with some unusual data."

Jayakodi said officials would return to assess data before releasing the final results of the survey, which was aimed at drawing up a national plan to deal with nuisance wildlife.

Opposition legislator Nalin Bandara said the survey was "a complete failure, a waste of money".

Officials say more than a third of crops are destroyed by wild animals, including elephants that are protected by law because they are considered sacred.

While elephants are major raiders of rice farms and fruit plantations, they were not included in the March count.

The then agricultural minister proposed in 2023 exporting some 100,000 toque macaques to Chinese zoos but the monkey business was abandoned following protests from environmentalists.

Sri Lanka removed several species from its protected list in 2023, including all three of its monkey species as well as peacocks and wild boars, allowing farmers to kill them.