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Tencent launches AI platform to decode inscriptions on China’s ancient oracle bones
- Tencent’s Oracle Bones Corpus provides an AI-powered online database dedicated to the study of the ancient inscriptions on oracle bones
- The new online platform aims to amass various digitised versions of the oracle bones for easier comparison by researchers
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Iris Dengin Shenzhen
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools developed by Tencent Holdings are now helping researchers decipher more efficiently inscriptions on oracle bones, known as jia gu wen – the oldest known form of writing in China that was used about 3,600 years ago.
Tencent has launched its Oracle Bones Corpus, an online platform and database dedicated to the study of the ancient inscriptions, that uses AI tools to help researchers translate those writings by comparing it with thousands of indexed images, according to a statement from the Shenzhen-based video gaming and social media giant on Tuesday.
AI “significantly” improves the efficiency and accuracy in the process of character recognition, which is one of the biggest challenges in studying the oracle bones, the company said.
“With Oracle Bones Corpus, we have established a platform for all the stakeholders in oracle bones research to work together towards a common goal,” said Zhan Shu, head of the digital culture lab at Tencent’s Sustainable Social Value Organisation. “We look forward to seeing more oracle bones digitised, and invite researchers and anthropology enthusiasts to decipher the secrets of these ancient texts.”
The latest initiative by Tencent bolsters the company’s efforts to show that the advanced technologies deployed in its businesses can make a contribution to areas outside online entertainment, including culture and science.
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