Language diversity in Africa often limits digital inclusion. Offering technologies in local languages simplifies access, encouraging adoption and broader use, which bridges the digital divide.

French multinational telecom Orange has announced a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to develop AI Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored to understanding regional African languages. Announced on November 26, the initiative will utilize OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's Llama platforms to address the underrepresentation of African languages in AI systems.

“Orange’s long-term goal is to work with many AI technology providers to enable future models to recognize all African languages spoken and written across Orange’s 18-country footprint in the region,” the release stated.

The project, set to launch in 2025, will initially focus on enhancing customer interactions in Wolof and Pulaar, spoken by millions in West Africa, and extend Orange’s digital inclusion efforts. These models will also be available for non-commercial use in public health and education.

Most existing AI models primarily cater to widely spoken languages, leaving millions of African language speakers without representation in digital systems. Orange's collaboration with OpenAI and Meta to develop AI models for African languages tackles a significant barrier to digital inclusion.

By enabling technology to communicate in local languages, the partnership promotes inclusive innovation and aligns with global efforts to ensure digital access for underserved populations.

Hikmatu Bilali