Post by Indeg, Cymraeg 2050 Team, Welsh Government
Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
When we published the Welsh language technology action Plan in 2018, our aim was to create technological advances that would enable us to use more Welsh in a wide range of situations. In February 2024, the then Minister for Education and Welsh Language published the final report on this Plan, looking back at our progress, including advancements in AI.
We’ve since launched a call for information asking for opinions and ideas on the next steps in Welsh tech. This call for information closed on 01 October, and we’re currently considering the responses. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in their ideas!
By building the infrastructure for Welsh language technology in this way, we’re encouraging people to use more Welsh, helping us reach our goals for Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers.
We’re also supporting the delivery of the Digital Strategy for Wales by developing digital tools and technologies which will enable people to access better public services in Welsh.
Latest developments
We announced a new data partnership with OpenAI in June 2024 to improve how AI technologies work in Welsh. The partnership has so far focused on sharing open data sources to better understand how AI processes the Welsh language.
Most recently, this has been a collaboration with the National Library of Wales where OpenAI used AI technologies to transcribe Welsh handwriting. We’re still analysing the findings of this project but initial results are available here.
Microsoft have also announced support for Welsh and Catalan in Copilot. This means that you can now use Welsh prompts and questions, and that Copilot is learning how to respond yn Gymraeg. As part of our partnership with Microsoft, we’ve already collaborated to create a simultaneous interpretation facility in Teams, for example. Work continues with Microsoft to further develop this, and we’ll now also be working with them to help improve how Copilot processes the Welsh language.
Technology for specific needs
An important part of our next steps in Welsh language technology will be technology to help people with specific needs. This could include disabled people, older people, people with additional learning needs, or people with needs resulting from a medical treatment, a cognitive or a physical impairment.
For example, Welsh speakers at risk of losing their voice due to medical reasons such as Motor Neurone Disease or throat cancer can now continue to communicate in Welsh, thanks to the Lleisiwr service. The service is financed by the Welsh Government through the Welsh language technology action Plan and developed by Bangor University.
Another example is the Welsh Government partnership with Tobii Dynavox, a leading AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) technologies company, which has led to TD Snap Express Cymraeg. TD Snap Express is designed to be simple and easy to use, focused on communication intent rather than on grammar, to support both children and adults in developing their communication and language skills.
This work isn’t only so that people can use the Welsh language but also so that they can use it easily, without additional challenges.
Want to know more about what we’ve done? Here’s the full report on our Welsh language technology action Plan.
If you’d like to learn even more about Welsh language technology, our Helo Blod website is always here to help.
To be in the know on all the latest Cymraeg 2050 news, please subscribe to our newsletter.