Latest news with #digitalheritage
Zawya
a day ago
- Science
- Zawya
UAE harnesses AI to boost Arabic language global reach
ABU DHABI - The UAE has set a model in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate the Arabic language and its cultural heritage into the digital sphere, boosting its regional and global presence as a language capable of meeting future demands. Various state institutions are rolling out AI-driven initiatives in sectors such as publishing, education, lexicography and creative content. One of the leading projects is the Historical Dictionary of Arabic Language, a monumental scientific achievement completed last year by Sharjah, the "Capital of Arab Culture". The project documents the evolution of the Arabic language throughout history. This was followed by the launch of the 'GPT Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language' project, which utilises modern innovations to serve and disseminate the language globally. Linked to AI, the dictionary offers researchers and enthusiasts with over 20 million Arabic words. It also enables them to write and read texts, convert them into videos, and continuously feed the dictionary with new information through a collaboration between the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah and the Emirates Scholar Research Centre. Meanwhile, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation is advancing digital culture and knowledge in the Arab world and globally through initiatives including the 'Digital Knowledge Hub,' an Arabic platform for producing, collecting and organising digital content. Last year, it surpassed 800,000 titles and 8.5 million digital items across more than 18 specialised libraries. The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, has launched several AI-based publishing projects, including a specialised digital dictionary to support digital Arabic content. It is the first comprehensive Arabic-English dictionary employing AI and computational linguistics. The dictionary covers over 7,000 core modern terms, offering automated pronunciation, simplified definitions, examples, images, and precise grammatical and semantic classifications. In collaboration with a team from New York University Abu Dhabi and Zayed University, the centre launched the Balanced Arabic Readability Corpus project 'BAREC', which aims to collect a linguistic corpus of 10 million words encompassing a wide range of literary genres and topics. The most recent edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair saw the launch of the "Digital Square" initiative, a technical space that provided a platform to enhance the use of AI in publishing and books. Furthermore, many educational institutions have been keen to launch diverse initiatives to promote the use of AI and modern technologies in teaching the Arabic language.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
International Museum Day: how China is aiming for cultural superpower status
In a small city in northwest China, visitors to an ancient Buddhist temple can interact with a shimmering princess from a historical ethnic group, thanks to a combination of advanced 3D scanning, artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies. Advertisement The digital Tangut princess Yun Zhuo in Zhangye, a fifth-tier city in Gansu province, is part of a nationwide push to bring China's ancient history to life and engage new generations through the use of technology. In elaborate Tangut attire that glimmers with digital silk, the princess interacts with visitors via a touch screen at Dafo Temple, home to China's largest indoor reclining Buddha statue, dating back to the Western Xia dynasty of 1038-1227. According to Beijing's official narrative, the short-lived empire which neighboured the Song dynasty was a melting pot of Tibetan, Uygur and Han cultures, and an early example of the integration of China's various ethnic groups, now a central theme of its ethnic policy. The digital princess in China's backwaters is exemplary of the country's strong push for digitalisation of thousands of museums and cultural heritage over the past decade. Advertisement Despite economic challenges from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, Beijing continues investing in cultural initiatives to preserve history, strengthen national pride, promote technological progress and enhance soft power in hope of building a 'cultural superpower'. This was in contrast to many Western countries like the United States, who are cutting funding for cultural heritage and museums, observers said.
