OpenAI, Meta, and Orange SA are launching a project to train artificial intelligence (AI) models on African languages, addressing a longstanding gap in representation for the continent’s thousands of dialects.
Why it matters
Africa hosts a third of the world’s languages, yet most are underrepresented in AI tools due to limited funding and infrastructure.
This initiative aims to make AI more accessible to African populations, including those excluded by language barriers.
Details
- The project will kick off in the first half of next year, focusing initially on Wolof and Pulaar, spoken by 22 million people in West Africa.
- Orange plans to use the models for customer interactions across its 18 markets in the Middle East and Africa, while also offering them for free in public health, education, and local business services.
Zoom out
- AI language models for sub-Saharan languages like Lingala, Swahili, and Bambara are next on the agenda.
- OpenAI will provide Orange early access to its AI tools and European cloud infrastructure to accelerate model development.
What they’re saying
- “This initiative is a blueprint for how AI can benefit those currently excluded,” said Steve Jarrett, Orange’s chief AI officer.
- Jarrett emphasized its potential to serve illiterate populations, enabling broader access to AI-driven technologies.
Source: Bloomberg
