Meta and OpenAI Promote AI in African Languages
Meta Platforms Inc. and OpenAI have announced a strategic collaboration to train artificial intelligence (AI) models in various African languages. This initiative aims to address the shortage of linguistic models tailored to the continent’s thousands of dialects. The project, which will be carried out in partnership with the French telecommunications operator Orange SA, is set to begin in the first half of next year, according to a recent statement.
Initial Focus: Wolof and Pulaar
The initial phase of the initiative will focus on two African languages spoken in West Africa: Wolof and Pulaar. Moreover, these languages are spoken by around 22 million people in the region. Consequently, the collaboration aims to create linguistic models that promote communication in these dialects. This will help improve digital inclusion in areas with high linguistic diversity. As a result, the initiative seeks to foster greater access to technology and information for marginalized communities.
Expansion to More African Markets
In the long term, Orange plans to expand the initiative by integrating more tech companies specialized in AI. The goal is to develop linguistic models that address the needs of the 18 markets in the Middle East and Africa where the company operates. This will enhance connectivity in regions with a vast diversity of languages, promoting access to advanced technology.
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Barriers to Linguistic Inclusion
Africa is home to approximately one-third of the world’s languages, reflecting its immense linguistic diversity. However, factors like lack of funding hinder the inclusion of many African languages in AI systems. Consequently, inadequate infrastructure exacerbates this issue, limiting access to AI advancements. As a result, many African communities are excluded from fully participating in the digital age. Therefore, addressing these gaps is essential for fostering greater technological inclusion across the continent.
Key Technological Infrastructure
To overcome these challenges, Orange will leverage its public cloud infrastructure in Europe and Africa, along with its own data centers, to train these linguistic models. While details on data acquisition were not specified, the company emphasized its goal of creating local language models that will improve customer interactions and also provide access to free public services, such as healthcare and education.
Benefits for Small Businesses
The project’s impact will also extend to small businesses and local entrepreneurs. The AI model will not only benefit individual users but will also be a key tool for economic development in African communities. According to Orange, this technology will enable greater social and economic inclusion in regions where digital connectivity remains limited.
OpenAI’s Perspective
OpenAI will provide Orange with early access to its AI models, allowing the operator to develop practical use cases. Notable advancements include AI-powered voice interactions with customers. Additionally, OpenAI will offer additional data processing and storage capacity in its European data centers, supporting the efficient expansion of the project across Africa and the Middle East.
Commitment to Inclusion
Steve Jarrett, Chief AI Officer at Orange, highlighted that this collaboration shows how AI can be a powerful tool for benefiting excluded populations. “Our goal is to make AI and its advancements accessible to everyone, including illiterate populations who currently cannot leverage its potential,” said Jarrett, underscoring the company’s commitment to digital inclusion and developing solutions tailored to local realities. Meta and OpenAI this collaboration is a crucial step toward bridging AI’s linguistic gap in Africa and fostering inclusivity.
