Sarawak is poised to embark on an ambitious journey to develop its own Artificial Intelligence (AI) Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA). This initiative, aimed at consolidating local data and sharing it with the world, was proposed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who took inspiration from China's AI model, DeepSeek, created by Chinese engineer Liang Wenfeng.
During a speech at the Chinese New Year dinner hosted by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority on February 7, the Premier shared his vision of 'DeepSar' an AI model built by Sarawakians, for Sarawakians. This model will be uniquely designed to represent Sarawak's diverse culture, languages, and biodiversity.
"I hope that one day, we will have DeepSar, founded by Sarawakians, featuring content unique to Sarawak, facilitating digital conversations between Sarawakians and the world," Abang Johari stated, as reported by BERNAMA.
A core goal of this AI initiative is to highlight Sarawak's rich biodiversity to an international audience. To achieve this, state-owned ICT solutions provider SAINS Sdn Bhd has been tasked with gathering and integrating relevant data into the AI model.
By positioning Sarawak as a global knowledge hub for rainforest biodiversity, the AI model could serve as a valuable tool for scientific research, education, and economic development. The Premier stressed the need to secure patents and rights over Sarawak's biodiversity, ensuring that the state benefits financially from its valuable natural resources.
"We can offer insights into the economics of biodiversity resources. When this information is downloaded, it will not be free eight billion people could access it, but we must secure patents and rights over our biodiversity resources," he emphasized.
In addition to AI development, Sarawak is also focusing on advancing microchip technology, which plays a critical role in data transfer and processing. By investing in microchip design and manufacturing, the state aims to strengthen its digital economy and support broader technological transformation efforts.
By integrating AI and microchip advancements, Sarawak is paving the way for a digitally empowered future. With DeepSar, the state is not only preserving its unique knowledge and heritage but also creating new opportunities for global collaboration and economic growth. This initiative marks a significant step towards establishing Sarawak as a leader in digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Source: Bernama
