News
More must be done to ensure Siri and Alexa are available in Welsh, Senedd told
MORE must be done to ensure virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa are available through the medium of Welsh, the Senedd heard.
Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister for the Welsh language, raised concerns about the accessibility of Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, in particular.
She said it has been seven years since her Plaid Cymru colleague Llyr Gruffydd failed to get a response when communicating with Siri in Welsh in the Senedd’s chamber, or Siambr.
During a 2017 debate, Mr Gruffydd asked his smartphone: “Who is the first minister of Wales?” and “Hey, Siri, do you understand Welsh?”
Siri responded: “Sorry, I can’t search that,” and “I rather enjoy what I’m doing now.”
Ms Fychan warned: “Unfortunately I think if you spoke to Siri in Welsh now, the same thing would be the outcome.
“It doesn’t always understand me when I try to speak English to it, because of my accent.
“There is great work to be done to ensure that that range of technology that is part of our daily lives is available.”
‘Linguistic banking’
Jeremy Miles raised the importance of linguistic banking as he gave a statement about a report on the 2018-2024 Welsh language technology action plan on February 20.
The education and Welsh language minister said: “We’re not yet in a position to be able to do that.
“To develop that kind of technology we need a significant range of linguistic data, and developers in the area are expecting dozens, if not hundreds of thousands of hours of data before they can create that kind of technology.
“At the moment, we have about 200 hours of relevant data in the Welsh language.
“That’s a very familiar story for minority languages, internationally.
“It is a challenge, and that’s why we’ve prioritised linguistic banking and, in the end, that will allow us to make sure that that happens.”
‘Laudable’
Mr Miles highlighted a Welsh Government-funded project at Bangor University which transcribes Welsh into typed text and can generate subtitles automatically.
He said the university has partnered with Open AI – the company behind ChatGPT – to improve how its most powerful chatbot, GPT-4, processes the Welsh language.
Samuel Kurtz, the Tories’ shadow minister, said embracing technology can make the targets of a million Welsh speakers and doubling daily use of the language by 2050 realisable.
Welcoming progress, he said: “The fact that the action plan recognises that technology is a priority area in terms of securing a place for the Welsh language in our lives is laudable.”
Mr Kurtz highlighted that SaySomethinginWelsh has created a free short course to help people learn the Welsh national anthem in four lessons, using an app.
He called for improved free digital checkers for spelling, grammar and mutations in Welsh.
‘Open source’
Alun Davies, a Labour backbencher, who represents Blaenau Gwent, was eager to know when he will be able to communicate with Alexa and Siri through the medium of Welsh.
The former minister said while the operating system on his iPhone is almost all available through Welsh, he has to turn to English when using apps.
Mr Davies called for a focus on open-source technologies rather than technologies that are closed or restricted in terms of licensing.
Mr Miles agreed about the need to foster a culture of open innovation, saying work with Open AI offers an opportunity to improve access to apps through Welsh in future.
On Alexa and Siri, Mr Miles cautioned: “The next challenge, and we’re already working on it, is to create hundreds of thousands of data.
“We have quite a long journey before we reach that destination, just because of the size of the Welsh language compared to the languages that are used more.”
News
Welsh rally star eyeing second British championship success
OSAIN PRYCE is eyeing his second British Rally Championship (BRC) title after a recording a superb victory in the Severn Valley Stages.
The Welsh star and co-driver Rhodri Evans finished 20 seconds ahead of Irish driver William Creighton, with championship leader Chris Ingram claiming third place.
The result left Pryce 15 points adrift of Ingram after two rounds and boosted his chances of adding to his 2022 British title success.
Pryce was excellent in his Ford Fiesta Rally2, wowing the sizeable crowds who lined iconic stages such as Hafren Sweet Lamb and Myherin.
The Welshman established an early lead over Ingram before withstanding a charge by Creighton to claim his first BRC victory since Rally Yorkshire in 2022.
“It’s a big relief – I’m so happy to get the win,” Pryce said. “We had a dodgy couple of stages at the end, and to be honest, it was so slippy, but I drove at a pace where I was comfortable.
“I did lose some time, which in the end wasn’t too bad, but we certainly had some hairy moments just trying to keep it on the road. Credit to everyone who’s got me here. Top job from Rhodri too – that’s his first-ever win!
While Ingram currently leads the standings by four points from Creighton, the Irishman could be the biggest threat to Pryce’s title hopes.
He is still getting to grips with his new Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, but has recorded back-to-back second place finishes to force his way into contention.
Bettors in Creighton’s homeland have backed their compatriot to emerge victorious this season, forcing bookmakers to cut his odds to win the title.
Several of the best Irish betting sites also make him the favourite to win the upcoming Jim Clark Rally in Scotland later this month.
However, Pryce will fancy his chances of claiming another victory as he strives to follow up his impressive 2022 British title success.
The Welshman won four of the seven events that season to clinch top spot by an emphatic 19-point margin from Keith Cronin.
With two of the final four rallies of the season set to be staged in Wales, Pryce could be a good bet to upset the odds over the next few months.
He has previously won Rali Ceredigion and the Cambrian Rally, which should give him the confidence he needs to secure another British title.
Farming
King Charles III is new Royal Welsh Agricultural Society patron
KING CHARLES III has continued a royal tradition by agreeing to become the new patron of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS).
As Prince of Wales, he consistently supported the RWAS, having visited the Royal Welsh Show seven times from 1969 to 2019 and he opened the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in 2001.
“To have the monarch as our patron is very special,” said Aled Rhys Jones, RWAS chief executive. “We are immensely grateful to His Majesty for continuing his support to the society.
“He is a true champion of rural matters and has a deep affection for Wales. His support as patron will be a great endorsement to the work we do in promoting Welsh agriculture.”
The decision follows a review of the patronages of the late Queen, the former Prince of Wales and the former Duchess of Cornwall. The letter from Buckingham Palace to the RWAS read: ‘His Majesty would be delighted to accept’.
The Queen was patron of the RWAS for 70 years and showed great support. Her support reflected her long-lasting interest in Welsh agriculture, horticulture and rural affairs.
The Queen’s first official role with the RWAS was as Princess Elizabeth in 1947, when she was honorary president. She undertook a triumphant tour of the showground during a visit to the Royal Welsh Show, held in Carmarthen.
The late Queen had followed her late father, George VI, and her grandfather, George V in accepting the patronage.
King George V first became patron as Prince of Wales in 1907 and formally as King in 1911. His Silver Challenge Cup for the best Welsh Cob then became known as the George Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, one of the most famous cups presented at the Royal Welsh Show annually.
Crime
Re-elected Crime Commissioner embarks on new term in office
RE-ELECTED Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dafydd Llywelyn begun his new term in office this week with a series of key meetings aimed at shaping his strategic vision for the region’s policing priorities over the next four years.
The Commissioner’s first official day was Thursday 9th of May, and saw key discussions taking place, beginning with a meeting with the Chief Constable to gain an update from Dyfed-Powys Police on operational matters, and also to outline his vision and priorities for the new term in Office.
In addition, the Commissioner met with staff from his Office for discussions on the development of a new Police and Crime Plan for Dyfed-Powys for 2025-2029. The Police and Crime Plan will be the strategic blueprint that will represent the Commissioner’s vision and priorities, further reinforcing his dedication to delivering effective and efficient policing services tailored to the needs and expectations of our diverse communities.
In coming weeks, the Commissioner’s Office will launch a public consultation on the new Police and Crime Plan, whereby the public will have an opportunity to have their say on policing and crime matters in their area. Online questionnaires and focus groups will form part of the consultation, to ensure that the Office provides plenty of opportunities for communities to have their say.
Reflecting on his ambitions for the upcoming term, Mr Llywelyn expressed that his focus will be on improving public confidence and trust in policing: “I am honoured to be re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys for my third successive term.
“As I start this new term in Office, I am committed to build on the achievements to date and address the challenges that lie ahead.
“My vision is clear: to develop safer communities for all through proactive crime prevention and ensuring a justice system that is both fair and efficient.
“I will work in collaboration with the Force and other criminal agency partners to ensure transparency and accountability, to ensure that we can we work collectively to improve public trust and confidence in policing.
“Your safety will continue to be my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police area remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England”.
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