Orange, Open AI and Meta partner to train AI models in African languages

Pan-African operator Orange has partnered with Meta and Open AI to train artificial intelligence (AI) models in African languages, aiming to bridge the longstanding gap in representing the continent's diverse dialects.

Due to start in the first half of 2025, the project will initially focus on incorporating regional languages Wolof and Pulaar, spoken by 22 million people in West Africa, into OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's Llama software, the telco said in a statement.

Orange said the project aims to develop custom AI models that allow customers to communicate naturally in their local languages with Orange for customer support and sales. 

"These open-source AI models will also be provided externally by Orange with a free license for non-commercial use such as for public health, public education, and many other services," Orange added.

Orange helps drive AI innovation

Orange said it planned to use the models for customer interactions across its 18 markets in the Middle East and Africa, while also offering them for free in public health, education, and local business services.

"Orange's vision is to make AI and other related advances accessible to all, including illiterate populations, who are not benefiting from the potential of AI. The initiative is a blueprint for how AI can be used to benefit those currently excluded," the telco said.

Related:Orange Opens Digital Center in Senegal

Orange's chief AI officer, Steve Jarrett, said the initiative is a blueprint for how AI can benefit those currently excluded.

He added that the initiative's potential to serve illiterate populations will enable broader access to AI-driven technologies.

Orange's African deals

Orange's latest partnership with Open AI and Meta comes as the pan-African telco is signing deals aimed at digitally transforming the African continent.

In October 2024, Orange signed a strategic partnership to expand access to mobile financial services across sub-Saharan Africa with global payments firm Mastercard.

Orange's latest partnership with Open AI and Meta comes as the pan-African telco is signing deals aimed at digitally transforming the African continent. (Source: Orange media center)

In addition to that partnership, Orange has also been setting up data centers on the African continent.

In July 2024, Orange opened an Orange Digital Center (ODC) in Guinea-Bissau.

Orange said its ODCs are an ecosystem dedicated to developing digital skills to promote innovation, strengthening the employability of young people and supporting local entrepreneurship.

Orange Ventures and Digital Africa teamed up to invest more in tech startups in Africa and the Middle East through Digital Africa's Fuzé program in May 2024.

In April 2024, Orange and the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) launched the "DigiGreen & Agri" project aimed at promoting digital transformation in Côte d'Ivoire.

Orange has also built Digital Centers in Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon.

African companies signing AI deals

Apart from the Orange, Open AI and Meta partnership, Africa has seen a surge in tech companies investing in AI.

In October 2024, tech giant Google pledged an extra US$5.8 million in Google.org funding to support AI and cybersecurity training initiatives in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

In August 2024, infrastructure and digital services provider Cassava Technologies launched a dedicated AI business unit, Cassava AI.

In June 2024, telecom operator Ooredoo Group signed a deal to become a Nvidia Cloud Partner (NCP) to enable the development of AI in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Also in June 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and tech firm Intel partnered to equip 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials with advanced AI skills.