Microsoft looks to boost AI performance in European languages
With today's leading AI models mostly trained on material in English, "the survival of these languages and the health of these cultures is quite literally at stake" without a course correction, Smith said in an interview.
AI models are "less capable when it is in a language that has insufficient data," he added, which could push more users to switch to English even when it is not their native language.
Microsoft will from September set up research units in the eastern French city Strasbourg to "help expand the availability of multilingual data for AI development" in at least 10 of the European Union's 24 languages, including Estonian and Greek.
The work will include digitising books and recording hundreds of hours of audio.
"This isn't about creating data for Microsoft to own. It is about creating data for the public to be able to use," Smith said, adding that the information would be shared on an open-source basis.
The U.S.-based company has in recent months striven to position itself as especially compatible with a gathering political push for European technological sovereignty.
Leaders in the bloc have grown increasingly nervous at their dependency on U.S. tech firms and infrastructure since Donald Trump's reelection to the White House.
In June, Microsoft said it was stepping up cooperation with European governments on cybersecurity and announced new "data sovereignty" measures for its data centres on the continent.
Smith said that Monday's announcement was just the latest evidence of the company's commitment to Europe.
Most leading AI firms are American or Chinese, although Europe has some standouts like France's Mistral or Franco-American platform Hugging Face.
Away from Microsoft, some European initiatives such as TildeLM are pushing to develop local-language AI models.
The Windows and Office developer also said Monday that it was working on a digital recreation of Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral that it plans to gift to the French state, as well as digitising items from the country's BNF national library and Decorative Arts Museum.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
15 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Investors eye possible US-Europe trade deal as deadline looms
Investors are hopeful a potential trade deal between the U.S. and European Union could bring more certainty to markets ahead of next Friday's tariffs deadline. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday in Scotland after EU officials and diplomats said they expected to reach a framework deal this weekend. Trump on Friday said there was a 50-50 chance or perhaps less that the U.S. would reach a trade agreement with the EU. ADVERTISEMENT Trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe may have provided some investors with a rationale to be cautious, said Sameer Samana, head of global equities and real assets at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. "It's one of our largest trading relationships... So if that last piece falls into place, then you've probably got at the margin more people that have to get back in the markets," Samana said. "It's been a source of uncertainty that will go away." A deal would likely include a 15% baseline tariff on all EU goods entering the U.S. and probably a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminum, the officials and diplomats said. Optimism over easing trade tensions broadly has helped push U.S. stocks to record highs. Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" announcement of sweeping global tariffs sent stocks plunging in the immediate aftermath, due to spiking fears about a recession that have since faded. Still, investors have been bracing for increased volatility heading into August 1, which the U.S. has set as a deadline for raising levies on a broad swath of trading partners. ADVERTISEMENT The EU is facing U.S. tariffs on more than 70% of its exports - 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars and car parts and a 10% levy on most other EU goods, which Trump has said he would hike to 30% on August 1. Hopes for a deal with Europe rose after Trump struck a trade agreement with Japan earlier in the week. "The deal with Japan and the likely one soon with the EU are especially important given both are major U.S. trading partners, together accounting for about a quarter of all goods imports," analysts at Capital Economics said in a note on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT In the agreement with Japan, the country's auto sector, which accounts for more than a quarter of its U.S. exports, will see existing tariffs cut to 15% from levies totaling 27.5% previously. An agreement that also lowers EU auto tariffs to 15% "would be no small deal" for the region as well, as about 10% of its shipments to the U.S. are in the same category, Capital Economics said. Investors over the weekend were also watching for developments on trade between the U.S. and China. Officials from the two countries plan to meet in Stockholm next week to discuss extending an August 12 deadline for negotiating a deal. ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Heavy selling drags key indices to monthly lows
Mumbai: Stock markets declined for the second day in a row on Friday, with the Sensex tumbling 721 points due to heavy selling in financial, IT and oil & gas shares amid persistent foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 721.08 points or 0.88 per cent to settle at over a month's low of 81,463.09. During the day, it plunged 786.48 points or 0.95 per cent to 81,397.69. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 225.10 points or 0.90 per cent to a month's low of 24,837. Analysts said a weak trend in Asian and European markets also dented investors' sentiment. Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said, 'Subdued corporate results and lacklustre global cues triggered a broad-based sell-off across domestic equities. Elevated valuations in large-cap stocks, coupled with significant net short positions held by FIIs, added to the downward pressure.' Among Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance declined 4.73 per cent post its June quarter earnings announcement. Power Grid, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Trent, Tata Motors, NTPC and Adani Ports were also among the laggards.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Bengali must on all signboards': Kolkata mayor warns shops and restaurants, KMC session held entirely in Bengali
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has mandated that all commercial establishments within the city, including shops and restaurants, must display signboards and hoardings in Bengali, alongside other languages. KOLKATA: City mayor Firhad Hakim on Friday said signboards and hoardings of all commercial establishments, including shops and restaurants, must be written in Bengali, along with other languages. After a "Talk to the Mayor" session, Hakim was asked about some commercial establishments that were continuing with their hoardings in English, Hindi and even Assamese, but not in Bengali. Hakim instructed civic officials to look into the matter and ensure that everyone followed the norm. Last year, Kolkata Municipal Corporation mandated the use of Bengali language on all commercial signboards, including hoardings, alongside other languages. A deadline of Feb 21, 2025, was set for implementation of the rule. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Meanwhile, the entire proceedings of the corporation were conducted in Bengali on Friday as CM Mamata Banerjee called for another 'Bhasha Andolan' on the Bengali language row. However, KMC ward 49 councillor Monalisa Banerjee placed her questions in English on water supply glitch. Chairperson Mala Roy, who was presiding over the day's proceedings, asked Hakim to reply in Bengali. Monalisa raised civic issues like water pipeline leakage, water supply disruptions and shortage of labourers. Later, the mayor said: "Though the councillor raised her questions in English, I answered in Bengali, my mother tongue."
