French telecom giant Orange has announced a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) tailored to African languages, a big move to enhance digital inclusion on the continent.
The initiative, unveiled on November 26, aims to address the digital gap caused by the underrepresentation of African languages in global AI systems.
The project will leverage OpenAI’s Whisper and Meta’s Llama platforms to create AI systems capable of understanding and communicating in regional African languages. Set to launch in 2025, the initiative will initially focus on Wolof and Pulaar, widely spoken across West Africa, to improve customer interactions and expand Orange’s digital inclusion efforts.
“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 company stated in its release.
Beyond commercial applications, these AI models will also be accessible for non-commercial use, supporting public health and education initiatives. This dual-purpose approach underlines Orange’s commitment to fostering inclusive digital transformation across its African markets.
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The lack of representation for African languages in AI systems has long been a barrier to digital adoption on the continent. Most existing models prioritize widely spoken global languages, leaving millions of African speakers underserved. Orange’s collaboration with AI leaders OpenAI and Meta marks a significant step towards bridging this divide by enabling technology to communicate in local languages.
The partnership is expected to drive innovation while supporting global efforts to ensure equitable digital access for underserved populations. With the rollout of this initiative, Orange aims to empower millions of African users, making technology more accessible, relevant, and inclusive.
