A coalition of 60 organisations has launched a five-year initiative to make artificial intelligence services more accessible to people who speak languages currently underrepresented in AI models. The initiative targets an estimated 3.4 billion people worldwide who should be able to use AI tools in their own languages and voices. This effort brings together technology companies, AI research organisations, government ministries, philanthropies, developers, and implementing organisations.
The initiative is particularly significant for countries such as Kenya, where people communicate in English and Kiswahili alongside numerous local languages and dialects. Currently, only a small proportion of the world’s approximately 7,000 languages are well-resourced enough to support advanced AI capabilities. Many languages have limited representation in datasets, tools, and benchmarks used to develop and test AI systems, resulting in less accurate or effective AI tools for speakers of those languages.
The initiative goes beyond translating text, with participating organisations also seeking to improve AI’s ability to understand and respond through voice. This could be particularly important in communities where text-based interfaces are less practical. Better recognition of dialects, slang, idioms, and cultural context could improve the usefulness of AI systems. For Kenya and other African countries, improved AI support for local languages could expand access to AI-powered services in sectors such as healthcare, education, and financial services.
The organisations will collaborate across four key areas: building open language data infrastructure, developing benchmarks to track progress, turning language data into AI models and applications, and ensuring the technology is developed responsibly. The coalition says privacy, consent, and data sovereignty will guide the initiative as organisations work to expand access to AI. This effort aims to bring together work on datasets, models, benchmarks, and applications under a common global goal.
The 60 initial signatories have invited other organisations, governments, researchers, and technology developers to join the five-year effort and contribute resources and expertise. The initiative builds on existing efforts to improve AI language and voice capabilities. According to Claire Wanja, the initiative is a significant step towards making AI services more inclusive and accessible to people worldwide.
Improved AI support for local languages could have a significant impact on various sectors in Kenya and other African countries. For example, in healthcare, AI-powered services could help diagnose and treat diseases more effectively. In education, AI-powered tools could provide personalised learning experiences for students. In financial services, AI-powered systems could help detect and prevent financial crimes.
The global AI initiative is a significant step towards bridging the language gap in AI services. With 60 organisations committed to the effort, the initiative has the potential to make a substantial impact on the lives of 3.4 billion people worldwide. As the initiative progresses, it will be important to track its progress and ensure that the technology is developed and implemented responsibly.
Key points
- The initiative aims to make AI services accessible to 3.4 billion people who speak underrepresented languages.
- The coalition brings together 60 organisations from across the global AI ecosystem.
- Improved AI support for local languages could expand access to AI-powered services in various sectors.
