site.btaUPDATED Sofia's Computer Science Institute Presents First Bulgarian-Language Open-source AI

The Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) in Sofia Monday presented BgGPT, the first Bulgarian-language open-source artificial intelligence (AI) model of the latest generation. The event was attended by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Education Minister Galin Tzokov, the Rector of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Prof. Georgi Valchev, INSAIT Head of Research Martin Vechev, INSAIT Executive Director Borislav Petrov, and representatives of Switzerland's Charge d'Affaires in Sofia.

As part of INSAIT's strategy to create an open and publicly accessible AI model, BgGPT has been specifically trained in the specifics of the Bulgarian language, which will enable the creation of applications and solutions to benefit Bulgarian education, business, healthcare, public administration, and other fields. In its initial version, the model is trained on more than 3 billion sentences and consists of 7 billion parametres.

BgGPT will be fully available on March 3 at www.bggpt.ai. Meanwhile, users will be able to register for early access. Priority will be given to scientific, educational, public and business organizations, INSAIT said.

"The world’s economies will be divided into those that use AI and those that fail to do so," Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said during the event.

"There were experts saying that what is happening with the development of large models should be compared to the technological revolutions such as the discovery of electricity," Denkov added. "In recent months, we have seen that the competition based on the development of artificial intelligence models is very strong and dynamic," he said.

The Prime Minister noted that there are many fears surrounding this technology, mainly concerning job displacement.

"We are on a racetrack. What will be the future of a state depends on how well it will adopt and implement this technology," Denkov argued. He recalled that this country’s 2024 budget will support the development of an AI-based computing centre. 

Martin Vechev said that Bulgaria becomes one of the few countries in the world that has its own GPT technology, which will be available to all and will be independent of large private corporations. He stressed that through BgGPT, Bulgaria asserts that it can create technologies and AI at the highest global level, and be a technology leader, not just a participant in the technological process or an end-user of this technology.

Vechev showed how BgGPT works by asking it to solve a math problem, to answer when Sofia University was founded and by whom, what exams one should take to get admitted to the Sofia University Journalism course, among others. Vechev also had BgGPT write an essay on the applications of artificial intelligence.

"The model is continuously improving, and we expect it to be the best Bulgarian-language model in the world," said Vechev, adding that it will be fully accessible and free for the public since INSAIT is part of Sofia University and works for the benefit of society.

The Sofia University Rector said that this is a significant day, noting that human intelligence always lies at the heart of such efforts. "We are proud that the institute is part of Sofia University and it shows paths that advance our country to leading positions," he added.

"A few months ago, during my very first visit to INSAIT, I saw the new face of Bulgarian science, which combines public and institutional support, and the innovativeness and thirst for success in the young scientists of Bulgaria," Education Minister Galin Tsokov said. He thanked Vechev and called him an inspirer and leader who can be an example of leadership in modern science.

"INSAIT’s development of this AI model will provide a huge opportunity for the application of AI in Bulgarian schools and universities," he noted. Tzokov added that his Ministry can provide the resources already available in the Digital Backpack platform so that it can be built upon with BgGPT and each school can have its own system connected to AI. He noted that this is a huge opportunity to develop and improve the quality of the Bulgarian education system.