Bulgaria has recently made headlines by becoming the first country in Europe to launch its own state-supported artificial intelligence (AI) language model. The Bulgarian AI language model, known as BgGPT, has been developed by the Institute for Artificial Intelligence INSAIT, which is part of Sofia University. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as the model has received substantial state funding totaling hundreds of millions of leva over the past four years.
The BgGPT language model is accessible to public administrations, private companies, and state institutions. After successfully completing its testing phase, the model is now officially operational. According to Professor Martin Vechev, the technology used in BgGPT surpasses even international platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT in processing the Bulgarian language. Speaking at a press conference at Sofia University, Professor Vechev stated, “This achievement positions Bulgaria as a leader in Europe, offering a world-class AI language model specifically tailored for Bulgarian.”
The applications of the BgGPT model span various sectors, including science, education, healthcare, administration, and content creation. One crucial advantage of this model is that it ensures data remains stored and processed domestically, providing data security and technological independence for the country.
Professor Vechev also noted that many European countries are heavily investing in similar AI projects, spending hundreds of millions of euros to develop their own AI systems. With the launch of BgGPT, Bulgaria eliminates its reliance on foreign AI models, reducing risks related to external influence or inaccuracies in data interpretation. Furthermore, this move helps safeguard the purity and integrity of the Bulgarian language.
The public launch of BgGPT is scheduled to take place on November 23, with access available to individuals through the platform bggpt.ai. However, institutions and businesses can already start utilizing the full language model immediately.
Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev emphasized the strategic importance of the project, describing it as an example of governmental continuity across administrations since 2021. He also commended the leadership of Bulgaria in AI development, as the country has created such a model ahead of other EU countries. The Bulgarian government has been the largest investor in INSAIT, providing significant funding over a decade, starting in 2022.
Professor Vechev highlighted that this achievement not only enhances the precision of AI in the Bulgarian language but also ensures the country’s autonomy in shaping public discourse. The launch of BgGPT is expected to open up new opportunities across multiple fields while maintaining Bulgaria’s technological sovereignty.
With the development of BgGPT, Bulgaria has taken a significant step towards revolutionizing language processing in the country. By investing in its own AI language model, Bulgaria ensures that it remains at the forefront of AI technology, while also safeguarding its language and data security. As other European countries invest in similar projects, Bulgaria’s leadership in AI development sets a remarkable precedent for the continent. The launch of BgGPT is set to bring numerous benefits to Bulgaria, empowering various sectors and driving innovation, all while maintaining the country’s autonomy and technological independence.
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