Jawi and AI: Pioneering Digital Revival of a Cultural Script

via Bernama/The Sta, 26 January 2024: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being leveraged to empower the Jawi script. Researchers from Universiti Malaya are using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to digitalize Jawi manuscripts, facilitating the script’s use and learning. This initiative aims to preserve Jawi’s cultural richness and promote national unity through its historical and educational importance, despite challenges in digitalizing traditional scripts.

Towards this end, Rohana together with a group of UM researchers are conducting a study focusing on digitalisation of manuscripts using artificial intelligence (AI).

She said the software known as Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a form of AI that enables computers to process, understand and interpret both written and spoken human language.

“Through the NLP, we can develop a computer that can have a two-way or one-way communication as well as understand human languages such as Malay, Tamil and Mandarin…this is more effective as the computer can process data and store information without boundaries,” said Rohana, who has been involved in the study of Jawi script digitalisation over the last 26 years.

She said that with the technology, Malay text can be produced in two forms, both Rumi and Jawi through transliteration.

Source: Empowering Jawi script with AI technology | The Star