EqualyzAI, an Africa-focused artificial intelligence startup, has launched an AI platform aimed at promoting African languages through localized models and hyperlocal datasets.
The project was announced on Friday by one of the company’s co-founders, Olubayo Adekanmbi, during an event celebrating International Mother Language Day.
“Our mission is to ensure that AI speaks our languages, understands our contexts, and addresses our unique challenges. This is not just about technology; it’s about empowerment and inclusion,” Adekanmbi stated.
The company’s other co-founder, Ife Adebara, emphasized the critical role AI can play in preserving languages.
“Africa is home to over 2,000 languages, yet most AI models struggle to understand even a fraction of them. Our goal is to change this by developing AI that truly represents African linguistic diversity,” Adebara explained.
The company also introduced several innovations, including DataCollect, a data-gathering tool, AfroSLM 1.0, a small language model designed to enhance literacy in Yoruba and Hausa, and uLearn, an AI-powered tool that helps teachers create lesson plans, notes, and tests in both English and local languages.
Additionally, the company emphasized its priority of collaborating with native speakers to strengthen Africa’s cultural and linguistic diversity.