Dell and AI Singapore Bring Local Languages to AI Devices

Millions of people across Southeast Asia could soon use AI technology that actually understands their language and culture, thanks to a new partnership between AI Singapore and Dell Technologies.

The collaboration focuses on SEA-LION, an open-source AI model trained to understand 11 Southeast Asian languages. Unlike most AI systems built primarily for English, SEA-LION learns from regional data that includes local dialects, slang, and cultural contexts that make Southeast Asia unique.

Dell is testing these AI models on its laptops and edge devices to ensure they run smoothly without needing constant internet connection. This means businesses and individuals can use advanced AI features privately on their own devices, cutting costs and protecting sensitive information.

"Together, we are democratising AI in Southeast Asia and are fostering a future where advanced AI is accessible to all," said Andy Sim, vice president and managing director for Dell Technologies Singapore.

The challenge facing most AI development is simple: when systems only understand English well, they leave millions of people behind. Southeast Asia's incredible diversity of languages, from Tagalog to Thai to Bahasa Indonesia, creates gaps in how people can benefit from AI advances.

SEA-LION bridges that gap by training on real conversations and text from across the region. The open-source approach also means anyone can use it freely, avoiding the high costs typically associated with advanced AI models.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership extends far beyond Singapore's borders. While testing happens in Singapore, the technology is designed to serve the entire Southeast Asian region.

Businesses across the region can now run sophisticated AI directly on their devices without relying on expensive cloud services. Real-time speech transcription, language translation, and AI assistance become possible even in areas with limited internet connectivity.

Dr. Leslie Teo, senior director of AI Products at AI Singapore, emphasized the importance of making AI both culturally relevant and resource-efficient. Running full-featured language models on regular laptops means smaller companies and organizations can access AI tools previously available only to major corporations.

The testing phase addresses crucial challenges around accuracy across different dialects and cultural contexts. Dell uses diverse hardware setups and real-world datasets reflecting actual Southeast Asian conversations to ensure the models work reliably wherever they're deployed.

Making AI accessible to everyone, regardless of language or location, opens doors for innovation tailored specifically to regional needs.