- Collaboration between the Spanish Government and IBM to develop AI models for Spanish and co-official languages.
- The agreement aims to promote ethical and responsible AI use, particularly in the public sector.
- Focus on creating foundational AI models to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
- The partnership seeks to accelerate AI-enhanced techniques for material discovery and sustainability.
- The initiative underscores Spain’s commitment to AI leadership and innovation.
Main AI News:
The collaboration between the Government of Spain and IBM signifies a pivotal moment in the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies on a national scale. The meeting between Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government, and Darío Gil, Senior Vice President of IBM and Director of IBM Research, at the Moncloa Complex, marks the inception of a groundbreaking agreement aimed at fostering the development of fundamental AI models tailored for the Spanish language and co-official languages.
In this exclusive gathering, was attended by key figures such as José Luis Escrivá, Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, Manuel de la Rocha, Director of the Office of Economic Affairs of the Presidency of the Government, and Horacio Morell, President of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Israel, the focus was on addressing the challenges and initiatives within the realm of artificial intelligence and supercomputing.
Following this monumental meeting, the Government of Spain, in collaboration with IBM, officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to propel their joint efforts in AI and AI supercomputing. This strategic partnership aims to pioneer the development and practical implementation of open, ethical, and responsible generative AI in Spain. It underscores a shared vision to establish a suite of foundational models, comprising both large language models (LLMs) and small language models (SLMs), proficient in Spanish and co-official languages.
During discussions at La Moncloa, President Sánchez emphasized the significance of such agreements in reinforcing Spain’s dedication to accelerating the ethical and responsible utilization of AI, particularly within the public sector. The collaboration holds immense potential for enhancing productivity across various economic sectors while bolstering Europe’s strategic autonomy.
The signing ceremony, held in Madrid, featured the formalization of the agreement by Darío Gil, representing IBM, and José Luis Escrivá, representing the Government of Spain. Leveraging IBM’s expertise and open-source AI framework, this initiative empowers communities to contribute to the Spanish LLM, encompassing co-official languages such as Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Valencian. This collaborative endeavor aims to drive innovation, transparency, and safety while positioning Spain in a more cost-efficient yet technologically competitive stance in the global market.
Moreover, the partnership underscores a commitment to advancing AI-enhanced techniques to accelerate the discovery, development, and validation of new materials, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the semiconductor value chain.
“The potential of AI to revolutionize various sectors of the economy and improve public services is immense,” remarked Minister José Luis Escrivá. “The Government of Spain is dedicated to fostering the ethical development of AI, and IBM’s expertise makes it an ideal partner to realize our vision.”
Darío Gil echoed this sentiment, stating, “IBM is aligned with Spain’s ambitious AI strategy and aims to be its premier AI partner. Through our collective efforts, we will harness the full potential of AI technologies, fostering sustainable growth and innovation in Spain and beyond.“
With Spanish ranking as the second most spoken language globally, the focus remains on developing AI models exclusively in Spanish to mitigate biases and offer competitive solutions for the Spanish industry. This initiative emphasizes the refinement of models through advanced tuning and alignment techniques, facilitating community enhancements and nurturing an ecosystem of AI creators and builders.
Conclusion:
The collaboration between IBM and the Spanish Government signifies a significant stride towards fostering AI innovation and application within Spain. By focusing on developing foundational AI models and promoting responsible AI use, this partnership not only enhances Spain’s competitive position in the global market but also drives innovation and sustainability across various sectors. This initiative highlights the transformative potential of AI in reshaping industries and underscores the importance of strategic collaborations in driving technological advancement.
