6 – 7 June 2024
Ljubljana

A representative of the Association EPEKA. Soc. Ent., participated in the conference,
“Building Bridges between Languages: Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence”.

The conference took place in Ljubljana on 6 and 7 June 2024, organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in cooperation with the Anne Lindh Foundation, of which EPEKA is a member.
Members of the Sloga platform and the Anna Lindh Foundation network, including Epeka, had a meeting with the President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, HRH Princess Rym Ali, and the Executive Director of the Foundation, Josep Ferrée.
The main conference, “Building Bridges between Languages: Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence”, followed.
Translation is important in intercultural dialogue and in strengthening a common identity based on the cultural diversity of Euro-Mediterranean societies. However, a new factor has appeared on the scene that could change this situation for better or for worse. Today, artificial intelligence can understand and recreate human language quite accurately. This is also producing relatively high-quality translations, which are expected to improve in the near future. This change has been facilitated by the convergence of AI computing capabilities, the availability of more and better quality data and increasingly sophisticated software.
There is a growing realisation that AI should be trustworthy. Attention is now shifting to addressing the ethical implications of the use of AI, as we seek to ensure that its development and use are consistent with shared values. This is particularly important in the Euro-Mediterranean region because of its diverse cultures, traditions and socio-economic contexts. This diversity presents unique challenges and opportunities in the AI ecosystem, as regional differences require a coordinated and context-specific approach.
In this spirit, the Republic of Slovenia and the Anna Lindh Foundation intend to promote a human-centred approach to the use of AI for translation in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This is based on a commitment to increase diversity, equity and inclusiveness in access to and use of AI through multi-stakeholder engagement in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. The aim is to contribute to translation policy and practice by generating and sharing knowledge and developing effective strategies for bringing people and AI together for the benefit of intercultural dialogue.