National Jul 10, 2023
Seibu Railway tests new translation device to boost communication
by Yukana Inoue
The window-like interface creates real-time translations that appear as text bubbles as people converse on either side of the screen.
Asia Pacific Jun 15, 2023
A chatbot that won't take bribes for giving advice is a hit in India
by Saritha Rai
While the change that was ushered in by ChatGPT caused alarm about AI’s role in the spread of disinformation and job losses, it’s also a tool that can aid social equality.
World May 19, 2023
Last known speaker fights to preserve South African indigenous language
N|uu was spoken by one of many hunter-gatherer groups that populated Southern Africa before the arrival of European colonizers.
World Apr 23, 2023
Zelenskyy signs ban on Russian place names in struggle over national identity
by Jeffrey Gettleman and Olha Kotiuzhanska
Streets across Ukraine are being renamed, and statues of figures like Catherine the Great are toppling down in what officials call "de-Russification” projects.
Cartoons | ZERO GRAVITY Apr 22, 2023
by Roger Dahl
Film Apr 18, 2023
Audio-only film on foreign students aims to open audiences' eyes
by Mariko Tamura
With no visual aids, viewers must rely on their ability to listen carefully to grasp where the story will lead them. Everyone's interpretation is different, the director says.
Commentary / World Apr 10, 2023
The idiocy that will come with a reliance on AI
by Slavoj Zizek
The real danger with AI is not that people will mistake a chatbot for a real person, it is that communicating with them will make real persons talk like chatbots.
World Apr 10, 2023
Indigenous groups fear culture distortion as AI learns their languages
by Rina Chandran
Critics warn Indigenous groups are at risk from bias that can be embedded within algorithms, while generative AI models may also spread incorrect information.
National Feb 21, 2023
Government to screen Japanese-language schools to ensure quality
New legislation will also require instructors at certified schools to obtain a new national qualification for teaching Japanese.
Asia Pacific / Social Issues Feb 16, 2023
Tensions over Mandarin on the rise in Hong Kong after reopening
by Alyssa Chen
Debate over discrimination against Mandarin speakers in the city has been reignited following an influx of visitors from mainland China, with a viral video stoking concerns.
National Jan 16, 2023
New AI smartphone app will be able to decipher Japanese cursive manuscripts
by Anika Osaki Exum
The app’s beta version is set for release later this month, while the full version is scheduled to become available to the public this March.
How-tos Jan 5, 2023
Listen up! Podcasts can help with that perennial resolution to learn Japanese
by Jennifer O'Donnell
It's New Year's resolution time, did you make yours? If you're looking to improve your Japanese listening skills in 2023 then these podcasts have you covered.