Language technologies have come to us with strength. You can't say they've come up suddenly, because the disciplines that combine language and technology are ancient. However, despite their age, they have barely managed to attract the attention of the productive sectors or society in general. However, for about ten years there has been a great change. A kind of explosion. Now, for example, who doesn't use the neural translator.

This validity is due to the confluence of three factors. On the one hand, the evolution of artificial intelligence models and techniques, specifically the performance of neural systems and deep learning, on the other hand, the availability of massive data, that is, textual and vocal collections, and, on the other hand, a spectacular increase in computational capacity.

Machines today translate perfectly, create texts, answer questions, know what they say by voice and answer. Today you can talk to machines, we're doing it anywhere and anytime, without realizing it. Not only with computers, tablets or mobiles, but with the car, refrigerator, television, virtual assistants, or who knows what things. Machines are talking. We have Mintzaide. We talk to something that is not bone meat.

That is true, but it is true in the hegemonic languages of the world. Most languages in the world lack the resources to adapt to the technological environment. That is why it is said that the future of many languages is digital death.

The social and socio-linguistic consequences of all this are already perceived and it can be thought that they will become increasingly apparent. Can we live in Basque if these electronic linguists don't learn Basque? That is the question. It is therefore very important to anticipate future scenarios and take previous measures.

Alongside the social aspect, the economic impact is enormous. It's no coincidence that among the richest companies in the world, in the leading places, there are companies dedicated to language technology such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google) or Meta (Facebook). The economist Cédric Durand, in his book Tecnofeudalism, a critique of the digital economy, offers interesting keys to understanding what the digitalization of the world has meant and the ways to make big corporations.

In this context, ignoring is not a real option. Euskal Herria, the Basque country, has to make its place. A report published in the ‘European Language Equality’ project analyses the technological resources of European languages. In the classification based on them, Euskera ranks 25. It has before it most state languages and before or behind unofficial or minority languages. Given our socio-linguistic situation, it can be said that the Basque country is not in a bad position.

Facing the future, despite the difficulties of being small, in Euskal Herria we have a sufficiently strong technological community, with knowledge and capacity. The way forward must necessarily be based on open and public resources. We must develop our own tools, invest in research, coordinate the work of the agents, strengthen critical vision and pay attention to the needs of languages such as the Basque language.

Technology will not save us. Without technology, we won't save ourselves.