In a revolutionary step towards modernizing parliamentary institutions, the Spanish Parliament has awarded the AI transcription services contract to Pangeanic BI Europa S.L., marking the first time that artificial intelligence will be used in Spanish parliamentary transcriptions at the national level.
Pangeanic has been providing transcription services to another parliament (the Parliament of the Valencian Community) since 2021. In this parliament, both official languages of the region are recognized and transcribed. The Valencian company Pangeanic, which has been awarded the contract worth 462,835.89 euros, will implement its advanced technological solutions for transcribing parliamentary sessions in the different co-official languages of the State.
This award is part of a broader linguistic services contract amounting to 3.1 million euros annually. It aims to ensure the use of Catalan, Galician, and Basque in parliamentary activity during 2025, with the possibility of extension for two additional years.
Implementing AI technology in parliamentary transcriptions represents a significant advance in modernizing Congress, which will streamline documentation processes and make parliamentary work more efficient. This technological innovation complements the recent 1.6 million euro investment in conference systems and technical equipment awarded to Telesonic, which will provide the necessary infrastructure for these services.
European countries often have multiple official languages and regional dialects that must be accurately captured in parliamentary proceedings. For instance, Belgium operates in Dutch, French, and German, while Switzerland manages four official languages. This linguistic complexity creates a significant challenge for traditional transcription methods. Finland manages Finnish and Swedish in its parliamentary documents, whilst Ireland could facilitate both English and Irish language transcriptions
The use of AI in parliamentary transcriptions not only marks a milestone in the modernization of Spanish democratic institutions but also positions the Spanish Parliament (Congreso de los Diputados) at the forefront of implementing new technologies to improve the efficiency and transparency of its processes.
This digital transformation at the heart of Spanish democracy promises to significantly improve the accessibility and speed of documenting parliamentary sessions, benefiting both political representatives and citizens.
Implementing AI-powered multilingual transcription services in European parliaments isn't just a technological upgrade—it's fundamentally transforming how democracy functions in our increasingly connected world. As parliaments across Europe embrace these innovative solutions, the implications for democratic transparency, operational efficiency, and cultural preservation are proving far-reaching.
At the heart of this transformation lies a significant leap forward in democratic transparency. Citizens who previously faced language barriers in accessing parliamentary proceedings can now engage with their representatives' work in real time. In regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country, residents no longer need to wait days or weeks for translated transcripts of parliamentary sessions. Instead, they can follow debates and decisions as they unfold, regardless of which official language is being spoken on the chamber floor.
The impact on parliamentary efficiency has been equally dramatic. Parliamentary staffers, who once spent countless hours transcribing and translating proceedings, can now focus on more complex tasks requiring human expertise. The cost savings are substantial—early adopters report reducing transcription expenses by up to 40% while increasing accuracy rates. These resources are being redirected to enhance other essential parliamentary services, from constituent outreach to policy research.
Perhaps most significantly, these AI systems are emerging as unexpected champions of cultural and linguistic preservation. In Wales, where the parliament has been exploring similar technology, officials note that AI transcription has actually strengthened the position of the Welsh language in official proceedings. The technology's ability to handle multiple languages simultaneously has encouraged more representatives to speak in their preferred language, knowing their words will be accurately captured and translated without delay.
The ripple effects extend beyond the parliamentary chambers. Local governments are taking notice, with several European municipalities exploring how this technology could make their council meetings more accessible to linguistically diverse populations. The impact on civic engagement has been particularly notable in border regions, where multiple language communities often intersect.
As these systems mature, they're not just preserving languages but actively promoting linguistic diversity in governance. In Brussels, pilot programs have shown that when language barriers are removed, participation in public commentary periods increases significantly among minority language speakers. This technological advancement is proving to be a powerful tool for democratic inclusion, ensuring that voices from all linguistic communities can be heard in the halls of power.
The future implications are clear: as AI transcription technology continues to evolve, it's not just modernizing parliamentary operations—it's fundamentally democratizing access to political discourse across Europe's rich tapestry of languages and cultures.
The Spanish Parliament's adoption of AI-powered multilingual transcription services represents more than just a technological upgrade; it signals a new era in parliamentary documentation and accessibility. As other European parliaments face similar linguistic challenges and modernization needs, this model could serve as a blueprint for implementing similar systems across the continent. The success of this initiative could pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and linguistically inclusive European democratic process.