Maltese subtitles to be featured in TVM news bulletin

The TVM news bulletin will now feature automated subtitles in Maltese.

Autogenerated subtitles will be used during the 6pm news bulletin, later being verified and refined before the final broadcast at 8pm.

Under the Microsoft-backed SaqWI initiative, this pilot project aims to improve the Maltese language on Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms.

The system will be built on 100 to 150 hours of transcription of audio data from the PBS archives, ensuring that the dataset is fully localised and tied to Malta’s culture and history.

“There has always been a desire to promote the Maltese language,” said Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici. “The idea of switching on the national station and seeing Maltese subtitles written correctly is something very important for the continued development of the language.”

Funded by Microsoft’s AI for GoodLab and the Centre for the Maltese Language (CIM), in collaboration with the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Malta, developed a question-and-answer dataset to strengthen the presence of the Maltese language in the digital domain.