Kuala lumpur: UPM is developing artificial intelligence (AI) software that can interpret the communication style of young people, especially their use of abbreviations and short forms. UPM deputy vice-chancellor (Industry and Community Network) Prof Dr Hang Tuah Baharudin said young people were more inclined to communicate using abbreviations and contemporary expressions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative was part of the university’s efforts to maintain proper language use while safeguarding its authenticity amid digital communication trends. Speaking to reporters after attending the 13th Malaysia International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MICOLLAC 2025), Hang Tuah stated that language was always evolving, and social media had accelerated the change, with many young people now preferring abbreviated forms, which had become a trend in communication.

The AI aims to address this evolution by translating contemporary language into simpler, more understandable forms. ‘We have linguistic experts conducting research on how to process and interpret language so it can be used correctly. For example, if grandchildren use abbreviations when texting their grandparents, this AI can translate the message into simpler language that is easier to understand,’ Hang Tuah explained.

He further elaborated that the project is currently in the data collection stage, as tens of thousands of contemporary terms are used by young people today. The initiative is seen as a way to utilise AI as a tool to support communication rather than replace human thinking.

Hang Tuah mentioned specific abbreviations like IDK (I don’t know), IMO (in my opinion), LOL (laugh out loud), and G2G (got to go) as examples that could cause confusion if not understood. Once the database is ready, the AI will be able to translate casual or short forms into clearer, more formal language.