site.btaINSAIT Develops AI Chat for Ukrainian Speakers

Nearly 40 million Ukrainian speakers can now use an artificial intelligence (AI) chat developed specifically for their language, Bulgaria's Ministry of Education and Science said on Thursday. The system, Mamay AI Chat, was created by the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and is another step towards building national AI solutions for different countries.

The chat allows users to ask questions in Ukrainian, work with documents, images and audio, search the internet and solve complex tasks. It is based on the new generation of Ukrainian language models MamayLM v2.0, developed by INSAIT.

The project builds on the success of the first large Ukrainian language model, MamayLM v1.0, which the institute presented in 2025. The model has been downloaded more than 54,000 times and is already used by organizations in Ukraine, from companies to state institutions, the Ministry said.

MamayLM v2.0 is available in two sizes, with 12 billion and 27 billion parameters. The latter is the largest model adapted for the Ukrainian language so far. In Ukrainian-language tasks, the new models outperform significantly larger models.

Mamay AI Chat uses the same sovereign technology platform developed by INSAIT on which the Bulgarian chat, BgGPT, is built. Thanks to the institute’s work, countries and institutions can have their own AI solutions tailored to local languages and specific needs, while retaining control over their data and infrastructure.

The project is part of INSAIT’s broader strategy to build national technological capacity in AI. Instead of relying entirely on global platforms, countries can develop their own language models and applications that reflect their language, culture and public needs.

INSAIT is already working on similar initiatives for other languages and countries, with the aim of creating sustainable national AI ecosystems based on open technologies and world-class scientific research, the Ministry said.

INSAIT, based in Sofia, is the first institute in Eastern Europe to offer world-class research conditions comparable to those at leading Western universities and research institutes. The institute operates as a specialized unit of Sofia University and was established in partnership with ETH Zurich and Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), two of the world’s top technology universities. Leading scientists from top US, European and Israeli universities and research laboratories guide and advise the institute. INSAIT’s main focus is on scientific excellence, including world-class research, attracting internationally recognized researchers, and educating the next generation of students and technology leaders.