06-10-2025
Photo: João Lima/NOVA FCT
The base version of Amália – Multimodal Automatic Language Assistant with Artificial Intelligence, the first large language model (LLM) developed with a focus on European Portuguese, is now complete. The technical presentation took place on September 30 at Madan Parque.
The project, involving around 60 researchers from various academic institutions, also launched on October 1 its official website explaining how the model works and answering frequently asked questions (https://amaliallm.pt/). The current version is available through the IAedu platform of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and the final version of the model is expected to be released in June 2026.
With an initial focus on education, science, and culture, Amália was trained on Portuguese-language data and stands out for integrating multiple modalities: text, speech, image, and video. Among its features are the ability to answer questions, generate code, explain concepts, summarize texts, and interpret information — all grounded in the Portuguese cultural context.
The project is part of the National Artificial Intelligence Agenda and is overseen by the Agency for State Technological Reform (ARTE). Applications are already planned for public administration services, through the gov.pt portal, and in science, via FCT’s IAedu platform, fostering open-source applications, scientific data analysis, and innovative educational initiatives.
“We are building the core model — the foundation that will enable the creation of multiple applications and the exploration of new horizons for Artificial Intelligence in Portuguese,” emphasizes Professor João Magalhães, Director of the Multimodal Systems Group at NOVA LINCS/NOVA FCT and one of the project’s coordinators.
At NOVA FCT, the team of more than 15 people includes AI researchers, data engineers, linguists, and programmers, coordinated by João Magalhães and David Semedo.
The final version of Amália is expected to be completed within nine months and is already considered by its developers to be the reference model for European Portuguese in terms of cost and quality.
This collaborative effort involves researchers from NOVA FCT and Instituto Superior Técnico, in close cooperation with the Universities of Coimbra, Minho, Porto, Beira Interior, and Évora, also benefiting from the contributions of PhD and Master’s students.
Photo gallery of the presentation session here. (Photos byJoão Lima/NOVA FCT)
