Speech & Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized how we interact with machines through speech and language. From voice assistants to real-time language translation and transcription services, AI-driven speech and language technologies are rapidly becoming integral to our daily lives. These systems rely on natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition algorithms to understand, interpret, and generate human language.

A*STAR, in collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and AI Singapore (AISG), is spearheading the National Multimodal LLM Programme (NMLP)—a S$70 million flagship AI initiative aimed at fostering industry growth through LLM-enabled solutions and advancing AI governance.

Key Researchers

Key Projects

National Multimodal Large Language Model Programme (NMLP)

Building a large language model for Southeast Asian context.

Leveraging the computational resources of the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC), this two-year initiative seeks to establish Southeast Asia’s first Large Language Model (LLM) ecosystem, designed to understand the diverse cultures, languages, and values of the region. These models can seamlessly switch between different languages and contexts, making them particularly valuable in multilingual environments like Singapore.

  • Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network (MERaLiON)

As part of the NMLP, A*STAR developed and open-sourced MERaLiON (Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network)—a multimodal AI model capable of processing both speech and text. Trained to recognize Singapore’s linguistic nuances, MERaLiON accurately interprets local accents and dialects, enhancing communication and accessibility in regional AI-driven applications. Its potential use cases include customer interfacing automation, knowledge management and discovery and agentic decision making.

By building AI models that are culturally and linguistically aware, A*STAR is driving innovation to support businesses, improve accessibility, and strengthen Southeast Asia’s position in the global AI landscape.

Read about MERaLiON here or download MERaLiON from Hugging Face here.

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