The significance of open language models for Southeast Asian languages lies in their potential to tackle the linguistic diversity of the region. The research on developing robust models like Sailor for these languages aims to improve performance in areas where English-dominant models may falter due to lack of exposure during training. This initiative recognizes the necessity to provide equal technological advancements in linguistics across varied language landscapes. The world of language processing has witnessed several English-centric developments, given the abundance of English data available. This has led to improved , each excelling in various complex tasks. However, the linguistic diversity in regions like Southeast Asia poses a unique challenge, as these languages often receive less representation in data sets, leading to a gap in performance. The struggle to obtain multilingual parity has been an ongoing narrative in the tech community. Sailor models emerge as a tailored solution for the SEA region, leveraging a flexible language model and a massive corpus of tokens encompassing several regional languages. These models, developed by Sea AI Lab and SUTD in
Singapore, range from 0.5B to 7B parameters and signify a strategic move towards inclusivity in language technologies. They begin with an existing model, Qwen1.5, and further adapt to the linguistic nuances of SEA languages through continuous pre-training. One technique enhancing the Sailor models’ resilience is BPE dropout, which fosters the model’s ability to generalize across language patterns. Coupled with rigorous deduplication and data-cleaning processes, these models achieve a higher standard of training data quality. Additionally, optimizing the training data combination with proxy models allows hyperparameter adjustments that fine-tune the training effectiveness. In various linguistic tasks such as comprehension and reasoning, Sailor models have demonstrated resilience and utility. Their performance, when benchmarked against other standards, underscores their potential to resolve SEA language challenges across multiple domains. These models are not only a testament to technological progress but also an embodiment of a commitment to linguistic inclusivity. In a scientific paper titled “Language Models are Few-Shot Learners,” published in the journal Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), researchers explored the capabilities of language models trained on diverse datasets to perform tasks with minimal additional data input. This concept aligns with the Sailor project’s approach, suggesting broader implications for language technology’s adaptability across various languages and tasks. The research on Sailor models demonstrates a comprehensive approach to developing language models that effectively cater to the SEA region’s diversity. It underscores the importance of addressing multilingualism and ensuring quality training data, while employing techniques to boost model resilience. Sailor models stand as a beacon for future innovations in the field of linguistics, paving the way for more equitable technological advancements across different languages.