Post by Indeg, Cymraeg 2050 Team, Welsh Government
Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
“We’ll do everything we can to make it easier to use Cymraeg in technology, and we’ll use all the possibilities that technology offers to help us use Cymraeg.”
Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh language.
On 07 January 2025, Mark Drakeford, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, published a written statement outlining 3 new priorities for our work in Welsh language technology:
- technology to increase the daily use of Cymraeg
- making sure everyone can access Welsh language technology
- improving Welsh language artificial intelligence (AI), and speech and language technologies (by sharing data and other means)
We’ll publish regular updates on our work for technology and the Welsh language on this page.
1. Technology to increase the daily use of Cymraeg
Our first priority focuses on using technology to increase the daily use of Cymraeg as part of Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers, particularly in workplaces. We’ll collaborate with universities, procurement systems, and companies big and small to create a digital environment where Welsh is easy to use. This includes:
- Improving Tools: Developing and updating Welsh language spelling and grammar checkers, and making them available on more platforms.
- Safety and Protection: Ensuring that Welsh-speaking users, including children and adults, are protected from harmful content online.
- Visibility of Welsh: Working with the Welsh Language Commissioner to make the Working Welsh/Iaith Gwaith logo more visible online.
2. Making sure everyone can access Welsh language technology
Our second priority is about making Welsh language technology easy to access to both developers and end users. This involves:
- Supporting Education: Providing resources for parents and teachers to support children’s Welsh language education through platforms like Hwb.
- Sharing Resources: Expanding the Helo Blod tools and resources page to help developers and users know what’s available, and how they can use it.
- Open Access: Ensuring that Welsh language technology is shared freely wherever possible, supporting a wide range of users, including those with specific needs.
3. Improving Welsh language artificial intelligence (AI), and speech and language technologies
Our third priority is to improve Welsh language artificial intelligence (AI) and speech technologies. Here’s some of what we’ve done so far, and we’ll:
- AI Development: Continue to support AI projects like AINA and partnerships with OpenAI and Microsoft to improve how AI processes the Welsh language.
- Speech Technologies: Develop technologies that understand Welsh as it’s used day to day, including adding a bit of Saesneg into our Cymraeg and vice versa.
- International Collaboration: Work with international partners to support multilingual communities around the world.
Want to know more about what we’re doing? Here’s the latest on Technology to help people use more Cymraeg.
If you’d like to learn even more about Welsh language technology, our Helo Blod website is always here to help.
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