An international collaboration with offices at the Gozo Innovation Hub is developing a conversational chatbot in the Maltese language to be used in the banking, finance and insurance, and investments services sectors. The strategic partnership in this ground-breaking AI project will see the advanced ChatBot communicating with customers in the financial services sector, providing customer care support in Maltese. In fact, the Maltese language will be the first to be rolled-out, whilst other languages will follow. During a visit by Enterprise Minister Miriam Dalli, Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia, the developers explained that the primary objective of the €3 million project was to develop an innovative conversational platform utilising cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies while leveraging highly advanced cloud computing capabilities.
The first prototypes to be developed will primarily operate in the field of financial services, however, such an advanced chatbot can eventually be deployed in other sectors, including public service, tourism, customer services, and other e-commerce services where online channels are available. The project, titled The New Era of Chatbot, is receiving support from Malta Enterprise under the Research and Development Scheme. It represents a strategic collaboration between Cartesio Ltd and the University of Malta, in partnership with AI and cloud technology enablers Noovle International, who already have a presence in Gozo.
“This is the type of investment we want to attract to our shores as we continue pushing for a knowledge-based economy. AI has seamlessly integrated into our daily routines and is increasingly crucial across different industries. Simultaneously, Malta Enterprise supports companies in transitioning to digitalisation through research and development initiatives, prioritising sustainability, and fostering continuous innovation. Through Malta Enterprise we are proud to continue supporting companies who invest in research and innovation and use our islands as testbeds for the development of their projects,” Enterprise Minister Miriam Dalli said.
Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri stated that this company which is based in Gozo goes hand in hand with the strategy launched by the government, the vision for Gozo in order to continue attracting more companies that work in research and innovation. He went on to say, today we had the opportunity to understand how this chatbot works, which with the system that has been developed will be able to understand and also respond to the consumer in Maltese. It is certain that a chatbot like this will be used in more sectors such as banking, financial and customer facing ones so that through this system, citizens receive a better service.
Valentino Benicchio, Director, Noovle International, stated, “We are keen to explore new R&D opportunities in Malta in the fields of sustainability, innovation and other smart technologies where we can leverage our capabilities and experience, which can be applied in public services or the private sector.” Francesca Caruso, Director of Cartesio Ltd, stated, “We are proud to be here today, not only as a testament to the power of innovation but also as a testament to the fruitful partnership between the public and private sectors in Malta.” She explained how a cornerstone for the success of this project has been the symbiotic relationship between academia and industry. “Collaborations like this provide our students and researchers to see their research results embedded in a tangible product that can be of service to society, whilst at the same time advancing our research knowledge and capacity. Our research group is continuously advancing Maltese processing tools and this project provides the right platform to showcase our work,” Dr Claudia Borg, senior lecturer on AI at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology said.
Kumpanija internazzjonali bbażata f’Għawdex tiżviluppa l-ewwel ChatBot tax-xorta tiegħu bil-Malti
Kollaborazzjoni internazzjonali, b’uffiċini fil-Gozo Innovation Hub, qed tiżviluppa chatbot ta’ konverżazzjoni bil-lingwa Maltija biex jintuża fis-setturi bankarji, finanzjarji u tal-assigurazzjoni, kif ukoll servizzi ta’ investimenti. Is-sħubija strateġika bi proġett innovattiv fl-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali se jara ChatBot avvanzat jikkomunika ma’ klijenti fis-settur tas-servizzi finanzjarji, u jipprovdi appoġġ għall-customer care bil-Malti. Fil-fatt, il-lingwa Maltija se tkun l-ewwel lingwa f’din iċ-chatbot, filwaqt li lingwi oħra se jsegwu. Waqt żjara mill-Ministru għall-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli, il-Ministru għall-Għawdex Clint Camilleri u l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia, l-iżviluppaturi spjegaw li l-għan ewlieni tal-proġett ta’ €3 miljun kien li tiġi żviluppata pjattaforma ta’ konverżazzjoni innovattiva li tuża teknoloġiji avvanzati tal-AI u tat-tagħlim tal-magni kif ukoll kapaċitajiet ta’ cloud computing avvanzati ħafna.
L-ewwel prototipi li se jiġu żviluppati se jaħdmu f’oqsma marbuta primarjament mas-servizzi finanzjarji, madankollu chatbot avvanzat bħal dan jista’ eventwalment jiġi applikat f’setturi oħra, inkluż is-servizz pubbliku, it-turiżmu, is-servizzi tal-konsumatur, u servizzi oħra tal-kummerċ elettroniku. Il-proġett, bl-isem ‘The New Era of Chatbot’, qed jirċievi appoġġ mill-Malta Enterprise taħt l-Iskema Research and Development. Dan il-proġett jirrappreżenta kollaborazzjoni strateġika bejn Cartesio Ltd u l-Università ta’ Malta, bi sħubija mal-AI u l-cloud technology enablers Noovle International, li diġà għandhom preżenza f’Għawdex.
“Dan huwa t-tip ta’ investiment li rridu nattiraw lejn xtutna hekk kif inkomplu nimbuttaw għal ekonomija bbażata fuq l-għarfien. L-intelliġenza artifiċjali qed tkun integrata fil-ħajja tagħna u qed ikun aktar kruċjali f’industriji differenti. Fl-istess ħin, il-Malta Enterprise qed tappoġġja lill-kumpaniji fit-tranżizzjoni għad-diġitalizzazzjoni permezz ta’ inizjattivi ta’ riċerka u żvilupp, li tagħti prijorità lis-sostenibbiltà, u li trawwem innovazzjoni kontinwa. Permezz tal-Malta Enterprise aħna kburin li nkomplu nappoġġjaw kumpaniji li jinvestu fir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni u jużaw il-gżejjer tagħna bħala testbeds għall-iżvilupp tal-proġetti tagħhom,” qalet il-Ministru għall-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli.
Il-Ministru għal Għawdex Clint Camilleri stqarr li din il-kumpanija li hija bbażata f’Għawdex timxi pari passu mal-istrateġija li nieda l-Gvern, il-viżjoni għal Għawdex sabiex inkomplu nattiraw aktar kumpaniji li jaħdmu fir-riċerka u fl-innovazzjoni. Huwa kompla jgħid li aktar minn hekk ukoll illum kellna l-opportunità nifhmu kif taħdem din iċ-chatbot li bis-sistema li nħadmet tkun tista’ tifhem u tirrispondi wkoll lill-konsumatur bil-Malti. Żgur li chatbot bħal din se tkun qed tintuża f’aktar setturi bħalma huma dawk bankarji, finanzjarji u dawk customer facing sabiex permezz ta’ dan jinħolqu sistemi li jaqdu aħjar liċ-ċittadini tagħna.
Valentino Benicchio, Direttur, Noovle International, stqarr, “Aħna ħerqana li nesploraw opportunitajiet ġodda ta’ riċerka u żvilupp f’Malta fl-oqsma tas-sostenibbiltà, l-innovazzjoni u teknoloġiji intelliġenti oħra fejn nistgħu nisfruttaw il-kapaċitajiet u l-esperjenza tagħna, li jistgħu jiġu applikati fis-servizzi pubbliċi jew fis-settur privat.” Francesca Caruso, Direttur ta’ Cartesio Ltd stqarret, “Aħna kburin li qegħdin hawn illum, mhux biss bħala xhieda tal-qawwa tal-innovazzjoni iżda wkoll bħala xhieda tas-sħubija bejn is-settur pubbliku u privat f’Malta.” Fissret li bħala pedament għas-suċċess ta’ dan il-proġett kien ir-relazzjoni bejn l-akkademja u l-industrija. “Kollaborazzjonijiet bħal din jipprovdu lill-istudenti u r-riċerkaturi tagħna l-possibilità li jaraw ir-riżultati tar-riċerka tagħhom inkorporati fi prodott tanġibbli li jista’ jkun ta’ servizz għas-soċjetà, filwaqt li fl-istess ħin javvanzaw l-għarfien u l-kapaċità tar-riċerka tagħna. Il-grupp ta’ riċerka tagħna qed javvanza kontinwament l-għodod tal-ipproċessar tal-Malti u dan il-proġett jipprovdi l-pjattaforma t-tajba biex turi x-xogħol tagħna,” qalet Dr Claudia Borg, senior lecturer dwar l-AI fil-Fakultà tat-Teknoloġija tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni.