Aboubacar Ouattara, an engineer in artificial intelligence from Burkina Faso, is on a mission to bridge the gap between African languages and technology. Born and raised in Bobo-Dioulasso, Ouattara grew up speaking Dioula, a widely spoken language in West Africa. However, as he ventured into the world of technology, he realized that most AI systems are designed for languages like English and French, leaving African languages behind. This sparked his determination to make AI accessible to speakers of African languages.
Ouattara's journey began with his education. He obtained his high school diploma in Bobo-Dioulasso in 2017 and later studied computer science at the Institut supérieur du Génie Appliqué in Casablanca, Morocco. During his studies, he worked as a freelance web developer for clients in France and created several projects, including HappyCloset.ma, a marketplace for mothers and babies. This experience laid the foundation for his future endeavors in technology.
In 2020, Ouattara co-founded LaafiSoft, a platform that facilitates online medical appointments in Burkina Faso. As the technical lead, he designed the platform and managed a small development team. Although the project eventually came to an end, it marked an essential milestone in Ouattara's career, as he learned to apply technology to solve real-world problems.
Ouattara's pursuit of knowledge led him to the University of Laval in Quebec, Canada, where he earned a master's degree in artificial intelligence between 2021 and 2023. His research focused on developing models that can learn from data, and his skills soon found applications in the professional world. In May 2022, he joined Kaira Technologies in Montreal as a data scientist, working on AI-powered systems for financial anomaly detection and customer support.
As Ouattara continued to build AI systems for clients in North America, he noticed a significant disparity. While technologies like transcription, translation, and voice assistants have made tremendous progress in languages like English and French, African languages remain underrepresented. This realization reignited his passion to make AI more inclusive, particularly for languages spoken in West Africa.
The challenge lies in the availability of data, a crucial component of modern AI systems. Ouattara aims to develop AI models that can learn from and interact with African languages, starting with Dioula. His goal is to create a more equitable technological landscape, where speakers of African languages can benefit from AI-powered tools and services.
As the founder and CEO of Djelia, Ouattara is working towards making African languages accessible to AI technology. His story serves as an inspiration to young Burkinabè and African innovators, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, it is possible to bridge the gap between technology and local languages.
Key points
- Aboubacar Ouattara aims to make African languages, starting with Dioula, accessible to AI technology.
- Ouattara co-founded LaafiSoft, a platform for online medical appointments in Burkina Faso.
- He is currently working on developing AI models that can learn from and interact with African languages.
