Meta displays oral language translation ability of its Llama AI

Oct 09, 2024 | News On Japan

Oct 09, 2024 (NHK) - US tech giant Meta Platforms demonstrated the latest version of its artificial intelligence software in Tokyo on Tuesday. It can translate languages from speech as well as text.

Meta's generative AI known as Llama provided English translation orally and in writing from languages such as Japanese and Spanish.

Manohar Paluri, a Meta vice president who leads development of generative AI at the company, said Llama was made available for free, which allowed the firm to collect a variety of application examples.

Paluri told NHK in an interview that he was in Japan to study how developers and others are using Llama.

Paluri said: "Japan is an important country and has many, many users and developers that are building on the published models. You can't build and iterate unless you know how it's actually being used. The reason we are here is to learn and to understand and to unlock more value."

Paluri said the feedback he gets in the country will enable Meta to give Llama a better understanding of Japan's language and culture.

Four Dead and Six Missing As Typhoon No. 25 Moves Away

Typhoon No. 25 had left four people dead and six others missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures by September 22, as the storm moved away from Japan and the extent of flooding and landslide damage across the Kanto region became clearer.

Typhoon No. 25 Continues to Disrupt Transportation

Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 25 continued across Chiba Prefecture on September 22 even as flights and major highways returned toward normal, with entire sections of the JR network remaining suspended for the day and all Narita Express services canceled because of flooding, landslides and damage to railway infrastructure.

Japan Pushes India to Final Ball in Historic Sano Cricket Match

Japan came within two runs of producing one of international cricket's biggest upsets on September 22, pushing reigning T20 world champion India to the final ball before losing a rain-shortened match at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.

Japan Secures More Medals as Asian Games Day 4 Intensifies

Japan's Asian Games campaign continued across a packed Day 4 schedule on September 22, with the women's badminton team securing another medal, the women's basketball team completing an unbeaten group stage, and Japan adding a historic bronze medal in mixed air rifle shooting as several of the host nation's biggest medal opportunities moved into the evening.

Japan Takes 12 Medals on Asian Games Day 3

Japan collected another 12 medals on Day 3 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, with 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi and karateka Kakeru Nishiyama winning gold, while the host nation also advanced strongly in women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, handball and hockey.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

Physical AI Robot Aims to Fully Automate Household Chores

Japanese technology company MW is developing a home equipped with artificial intelligence and ceiling-mounted robots designed to automate household chores, with the goal of freeing people from the roughly four hours a day that can be spent on domestic work.

Modernizing Payment Gateways for APAC Cross-Border Merchants

Cross-border trade across Asia-Pacific keeps expanding, and so does the number of foreign shoppers, tourists, and business travelers that merchants now have to serve.

The Rise of Crypto Online Casinos: What Japan's Growing Audience Wants in 2026

Both cryptocurrency and online casinos have developed huge audiences in Japan. Research from 2025 estimated that more than three million adults have wagered online, while Japan also has an established crypto sector that is supported by millions of exchange accounts.

AI Takes Center Stage at Tokyo Game Show

The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's largest gaming exhibitions, opened with a record 1,138 exhibitors as companies from a growing range of industries seek a foothold in Japan's expanding gaming market, with artificial intelligence emerging as one of the main attractions this year.

AI Deepfakes Behind Fake Police Scams

Police are warning of a nationwide surge in scams involving criminals posing as officers, with evidence emerging that generative AI may now be used to create fake identities during video calls and make the deception more convincing.

Humanoid Robot Brings AI Into the Classroom

High school students in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, explored how humans and artificial intelligence might coexist in the future by interacting with an AI-powered humanoid robot during a class on September 11.

AI Imaging Aims to Reduce Missed Cancer Diagnoses

A medical institution opening in Nagoya's Showa Ward in October will use artificial intelligence-enhanced PET-CT and MRI equipment to produce clearer images and reduce the risk of cancer being overlooked during diagnostic examinations.

Why Are Data Centers Being Built Near Homes?

The rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence is fueling construction of data centers across Japan, but plans for two large facilities beside a residential neighborhood in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, are raising concerns over sunlight, noise and low-frequency sound as authorities confront gaps in rules governing the increasingly important infrastructure.

< 2 3 4 5 >