Head of CBS on Navigating Linguistics in the Era of GenAI

Since joining the Faculty as the Head of our Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies last August, Prof. Siok Wai Ting has led the way in integrating Generative AI and other cutting-edge technologies into interdisciplinary research. Now, let’s explore Prof. Siok’s insights.

We recognise that traditional areas of linguistics research, including theoretical linguistics, translation and language services, and corpus linguistics, are facing substantial challenges as AI systems progressively automate and replace these tasks. The intricate language theories that underpin these traditional areas often fall short in accounting for the complexities of large language models, which heavily rely on statistical relationships.

In response to these challenges, we are proactively navigating this evolving landscape by integrating new technology into our research and teaching endeavours. By combining our linguistic expertise with cutting-edge computational techniques, we can gain novel insights into language processing, cognitive mechanisms, and the interaction between humans and machines. This integration leads to the emergence of new or revamped disciplines, including computational linguistics and natural language processing, big-data computational corpora analysis, machine translation, computational neuroscience, and evolutionary computational linguistics. These interdisciplinary fields effectively bridge the gap between linguistics and AI, offering exciting opportunities for exploration and innovation.

To achieve our vision, we are fully committed to fostering collaborations and partnerships with leading institutions and researchers, both locally and internationally. Through active engagement in knowledge exchange and collaborative projects, we actively harness diverse perspectives and expertise, driving interdisciplinary research and maintaining our position at the forefront of linguistic innovation. We place a strong emphasis on the development of young scholars in our department, providing them with the necessary skills and support to excel in this rapidly evolving landscape. We empower them to secure external grants and actively contribute to the advancement of our field, ultimately benefiting mankind through our excellent research.