Taiwan is taking steps to counter China’s growing tech influence by investing in the development of its own language model. The country has allocated NT$17.4 billion ($555.6 million) through 2026 to nurture expertise and tools in the industry, specifically targeting artificial intelligence (AI). In addition, Taiwan plans to invest $7.4 million in the Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (Taide), a language model designed to provide businesses, banks, hospitals, and government offices with a platform for various tasks, such as writing emails and summarizing meetings.
The Taide project aims to create a language model that encompasses Taiwan’s values, such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. It seeks to mitigate China’s political influence in the country’s tech ecosystem, where platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu are believed to be eroding Taiwan’s cultural and political foundations.
To build the Taide language model, developers are licensing content from local media outlets and government agencies, adding it to Meta Platforms Inc.’s open-source large language model called Llama 2. This approach ensures that the content reflects the traditional Chinese characters used by Taiwan’s 23 million people, rather than the simplified characters used in China. The initial version of Taide is scheduled for release in April this year for select partners to test.
Despite being limited in scope compared to more established language models like ChatGPT, developers have high hopes for Taide. They believe that it, along with other locally developed AI initiatives, will elevate Taiwan’s role in the software side of the industry. The focus on AI projects marks a significant shift for Taiwan, which has traditionally been dominated by hardware manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
By investing in its own language model and AI infrastructure, Taiwan aims to establish a strong foothold in the artificial intelligence sector, reducing its reliance on foreign technologies and mitigating the potential risks associated with data security. While the road ahead may be challenging and resource-intensive, Taiwan is determined to leverage its technological strengths to shape its own digital future.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is Taiwan doing to counter China’s tech influence?
Taiwan is investing NT$17.4 billion ($555.6 million) through 2026 to develop its own language model and nurture expertise in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
2. What is the Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (Taide)?
The Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (Taide) is a language model created by Taiwan, which aims to provide businesses, banks, hospitals, and government offices with a platform for tasks like writing emails and summarizing meetings.
3. What values will the Taide language model encompass?
The Taide language model aims to reflect Taiwan’s values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
4. How is the Taide language model being built?
Developers are licensing content from local media outlets and government agencies, adding it to Meta Platforms Inc.’s open-source language model called Llama 2. This approach ensures that the content reflects the traditional Chinese characters used in Taiwan.
5. When will the initial version of Taide be released?
The initial version of Taide is scheduled for release in April of this year for select partners to test.
6. How do developers view the potential of Taide?
Developers have high hopes for Taide, believing that it, along with other locally developed AI initiatives, will elevate Taiwan’s role in the software side of the industry.
7. What is the goal of Taiwan’s investment in its own language model and AI infrastructure?
Taiwan aims to establish a strong foothold in the artificial intelligence sector, reducing reliance on foreign technologies and mitigating potential risks associated with data security.
8. What has traditionally dominated Taiwan’s tech industry?
Taiwan’s tech industry has been traditionally dominated by hardware manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Related Links:
– Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co
The source of the article is from the blog guambia.com.uy