Radio Taiwan International (Rti) has launched an AI-powered multilingual platform aimed at helping immigrants access news, discuss public issues, and connect across language barriers. The website, called RtiTalk, uses AI to automatically translate content between Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Philippine English.

Speaking at the platform’s launch event in Taipei on Wednesday, July 29, Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai (賴秀如) said the platform, which was supported by funding from Google, is intended to enable new residents and migrant workers in Taiwan to “obtain accurate, first-hand news,” including about earthquakes, typhoons, and new welfare measures.

The platform would have human oversight despite its use of artificial intelligence, she said, emphasizing that the broadcaster has “very clear guidelines on the use of AI” in news productions.

Also speaking at the launch, Taiwan National Human Rights Commission Vice Chairperson Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) said the platform would allow people to communicate without needing to speak the same language. “This is a very powerful feature,” she said.

Chi went on to say that Taiwan is “already an immigrant society,” citing approximately 600,000 foreign-born spouses of Taiwanese citizens and “nearly 900,000” migrant workers, including those working at sea. Taiwan’s immigrant communities mostly come from southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

“I think it is very good that this platform allows many voices to be heard and lets everyone take part in discussion,” the human rights commission vice chairperson said.

During the launch event, Rti Vice President Chris Liu (劉嘉偉) introduced the platform’s features to invited guests including National Education Radio Director Huang Yue-li (黃月麗) and Vietnamese-born media host and influencer Nguyễn Thu Hằng.

Rti also launched its Partners 100 program, which seeks cooperation with government agencies, universities, new-resident groups, civil society organizations, technology companies, and media outlets.