Vicomtech and TOKIKOM develop the first automatic news simplification system for Basque
The new tool, developed after more than a year of joint work, uses advanced Natural Language Processing technologies to generate simplified versions of news content, helping bring local information closer to people who are learning Basque
30.11.-0001
TOKIKOM and Vicomtech have developed the first automatic news simplification system for Basque, an artificial intelligence-based tool that adapts journalistic content into more accessible language while preserving the essential information contained in the original text.
The solution, which is already available across several media outlets integrated into the TOKIKOM Platform, was created with the aim of improving access to current affairs information for people who are learning Basque, thereby helping local media reach broader audiences.
The system automatically analyses each news article, identifies its key ideas and generates a new version written in simpler Basque, while maintaining the meaning and core informational elements of the original content.
The development of this tool is the result of more than a year of collaboration between TOKIKOM and Vicomtech. Throughout this period, both teams explored different technological approaches to ensure that the simplification process always preserves informational accuracy, one of the main challenges faced by AI-based language applications.
According to Vicomtech researcher Thierry Etchegoyen, who worked on the project alongside Jesús Calleja, one of the most significant challenges was ensuring that the tool remained fully faithful to the original information. “Current language models have a remarkable ability to generate text, but it is essential to ensure that they do not introduce interpretations or modifications that alter the original content”, he explains.
This issue is particularly important in the field of journalism. Elements such as direct quotations and reported statements required specific work to ensure that simplified versions maintain journalistic accuracy without attributing wording that does not exactly match the original source.
TOKIKOM stresses that the purpose of this initiative is not to replace the work of local media outlets or professional journalists, but rather to provide an additional tool that facilitates access to information for people who may face linguistic or comprehension barriers. For this reason, simplified articles are clearly identified and differentiated from content produced directly by editorial teams.
The launch of this system marks a new step forward in the application of artificial intelligence to Basque language technologies and further strengthens the collaboration between Vicomtech and TOKIKOM in the development of innovative solutions aimed at improving the accessibility and dissemination of information in Basque.
The tool is currently available across several local news websites within the TOKIKOM network, including Goiena, ALEA, GUKA, Aiaraldea, Txintxarri and ERRAN.
