Akkadian is said to be the world’s oldest language.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers consisting of computer scientists and historians has utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to decipher Akkadian, the world’s oldest language. The team, led by a Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) software engineer and an Assyriologist from Ariel University, developed an AI model using technology similar to Google Translate to interpret the ancient cuneiform script found on clay tablets.

Akkadian, which was spoken during the Akkadian Empire in present-day Iraq between the 24th and 22nd centuries BCE, poses unique challenges for translation due to its lack of descendant languages and limited cultural context. The cuneiform script, characterized by sharp triangular shapes, was inscribed on clay tablets using a reed with a wedge-shaped end. (MoneyControl)

The vast number of cuneiform tablets, documenting the history of ancient Mesopotamia in various aspects, remains largely untranslated and inaccessible due to the limited number of experts who can read them. Linguistic efforts to translate Akkadian texts struggle to keep up with the increasing number of tablets being excavated by archaeologists. The integration of AI into the translation process holds promise for unlocking the knowledge contained within these texts.

The AI model developed by the team specializes in two types of translation: cuneiform to English and cuneiform transliteration. The model surpassed expectations by achieving high-quality translations, as measured by the BLEU4 score, which evaluates translation quality. While the AI translator still has some errors and occasional “hallucinations,” it demonstrates the highest accuracy in translating shorter sentences and formulaic texts like administrative records.

Currently, the AI translator assists researchers by generating initial translations that can be refined and validated by human experts.

Further training on larger samples of translations is planned to improve the system’s capabilities. The integration of AI in the translation of Akkadian has the potential to revolutionize the field and tap into a vast wealth of knowledge about one of the earliest civilizations in history.

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