Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) in Madurai has recently unveiled TAMARAI, a groundbreaking research center focused on Tamil language and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The launch of TAMARAI on the founder’s day marks a significant step towards transforming the technological landscape in the region, according to TCE Correspondent and Chairman Hari Thiagarajan. The primary goal of TAMARAI is to develop a Large Language Model similar to a Tamil ChatGPT, with a long-term vision of revolutionizing AI technology for the Tamil community.
This state-of-the-art facility is expected to drive growth and innovation, propelling TCE into a future driven by AI advancements. The center’s mission also includes pioneering the development of inclusive and representative AI models for the Tamil language, bridging the gap between traditional wisdom and modern technology. By providing open-source access to centuries of Tamil literature and knowledge, TAMARAI aims to empower the global Tamil community with AI tools that honor and enhance their language and culture.
Mr. Thiagarajan highlighted that the AI center will serve as a testament to this commitment, fostering collaborations between academia and industry to modernize the Tamil language and make it more accessible on various digital platforms. The center will be supported by industry funding and guided by leading researchers from Indian higher learning institutions and Silicon Valley. It will focus on addressing challenges related to language translation, document summarization, paraphrase identification, and Tamil corpus creation.
Soma Velayutham, an executive in the AI field from California, emphasized that TCE is uniquely positioned to contribute to the Tamil GenAI domain, given its wealth of Tamil resources and scholars from Thiagarajar College of Arts and Science. The establishment of TAMARAI signifies a significant advancement in AI research and development tailored specifically for the preservation and enhancement of the Tamil language and culture.
