OpenAI an American artificial Intelligence (AI) research oganization, Meta platforms and French telecom giant, Orange SA have announced a groundbreaking partnership to develop and launch artificial intelligence (AI) models in African languages aiming to bridge the linguistic gap in AI, providing solutions tailored to the diverse landscape of the African continent.
This initiative was unveiled in a joint statement released recently which stated that leveraging Orange’s extensive network in Africa to roll out AI models, they will commence launching in the first half of 2025. The company plans to use these models for customer interactions across its Middle East and African markets and offer them for free in the education, health, and local business sectors.
The project will utilize advanced Natural Language Learning (NLPs) techniques to create models for translation, transcription, and conversational AI in African languages initially focusing on adding West African regional languages, including Wolof and Pulaar, West African widely spoken languages by over 22 million Africans, to OpenAI’s Whisper and Meta’s Llama models.
Steve Jarrett, Chief AI Officer at Orange, emphasized the importance of having open models, which allow for fine-tuning and the introduction of additional information to the model, enabling the recognition of West African regional languages that are not currently understood by AI systems.
He said, “We see the initiative as a blueprint for how AI can be used to benefit those currently excluded. Orange’s vision is to make AI and other related advances accessible to all, including illiterate populations who are currently unable to benefit from the potential of artificial intelligence. By extending this project to more African languages, we aim to bridge linguistic gaps, ensuring AI tools support local populations effectively.”
This partnership marks a significant milestone in Africa’s AI ecosystem, prioritizing African languages and empowering many Africans. By creating AI systems that are truly global and inclusive, OpenAI, Meta, and Orange SA are paving the way for a more diverse and equitable AI landscape.
