RegICON 2025 at Gauhati University calls to safeguard endangered languages through AI

 

Guwahati, 28 November: “In a region that speaks in 185 languages, technology must become a moral instrument - one that protects, preserves and empowers,” said the Vice Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta as he inaugurated RegICON 2025 at Gauhati University, setting the tone for a three-day dialogue on Natural Language Processing (NLP), artificial intelligence and linguistic diversity. The Conference started on Thursday and concludes on Saturday, November 29.

Prof. Mahanta highlighted the urgency of digitally documenting Northeast India’s endangered languages, including Singpho, Tai Phake and Tai Khamti, and stressed that emerging technologies must strengthen, not overshadow, cultural identity. He called for sustained interdisciplinary research to secure the linguistic, social and cultural heritage of the region.

The Regional International Conference (RegICON) 2025 began with the release of an introductory video at P.D. Hall, drawing scholars and practitioners from Japan, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Virach Sornlertlamvanich, Musashino University, Japan, spoke on “Conscious AI: A Buddhist-Inspired Cognitive Framework.” He explained how a Buddhist-influenced cognitive model and the Semantically Aware Reasoning (SAR) framework, which could enable AI systems to develop deeper contextual understanding and more deliberate reasoning, an important step toward next-generation, insight-driven AI.

Mr. Subhash Chandra Das, IAS (Retd.), (Vice Chancellor, Assam Skill University), and Dr. M.S. Lakshmi Priya, IAS, (Registrar, Assam Skill University), highlighted the growing need to equip youth with skills in AI, Machine Learning and NLP to enhance regional and global opportunities.

In his Welcome Address, Prof. Shikhar Kumar Sarma, (Organising Chair, Dean of Technology and Head of IT, Gauhati University), outlined how RegICON builds on the legacy of ICON, India’s flagship NLP conference, while focusing on the linguistic challenges and technological aspirations of Northeast India and Southeast Asia. Prof. Sivaji Bandopadhyay, (General Chair), presented the conference themes, including multilingual NLP, speech technologies, cognitive modelling and deep learning for low-resource languages.

The inaugural programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Manoj Kumar Deka, (Academic Head and Head of IT, Assam Skill University), followed by an Asom Sangeet presentation.