IBM, AI Singapore collaborate to improve Sea-Lion model

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Global cloud computing firm IBM is partnering with AI Singapore (AISG) to help evaluate and enhance the latter’s large language model (LLM), Sea-Lion, through its business-centered generative AI platform, Watsonx.

IBM said it will incorporate the Sea-Lion model into its Digital Self-Serve Co-Create Experience library, which enables data scientists and engineers to work with localized generative AI platforms. AISG will also get access to technical assistance from IBM to help improve Sea-Lion.

In turn, the partnership gives IBM access to an LLM trained in Southeast Asia’s local languages and nuances.

“IBM will leverage its extensive business and technology ecosystem to help ASEAN organizations and citizens realize the value that custom models like Sea-Lion, as well as Watsonx, brings,” said Catherine Lian, general manager at IBM ASEAN.

The two parties are also set to integrate AI governance into Sea-Lion to help businesses manage AI compliance and risk management amid growing regulations on the use of the technology.

This is not the first time a global tech giant has partnered with AISG. In March, Google Research announced a similar collaboration with the nonprofit organization.

The interest comes as companies are racing to establish an LLM that can compete against OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o, which it launched earlier this month.

See also: Why Singapore’s LLM isn’t sweating GPT-4