Google is building a digital transformation that includes everyone. It is introducing 15 more African languages across Voice Search, talk-to-type on Gboard and Google Translate dictation. This update was developed by Google Speech with the Research Team in Accra, and will enable an additional 300 million Africans to use voice commands to interact with the web. 

Voice Technology is empowering individuals to interact across the web and communicate with friends and families with their natural voice. This progress is a result of advancements in AI, particularly multilingual speech recognition, which converts speech to text. Speech recognition models are trained on data from multiple languages to transcribe speech to text in any of those African languages. 

Google already supports typing with custom keyboards with Gboard for 200 African Languages, and automatic translation for over 60 Languages spoken in Africa. The new languages on Voice Search and Gboard talk-to-type are Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Kikuyu, Nigerian Pidgin, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, Twi and Yoruba. While on Translate, Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, South Ndebele, Swati, Tigrinya, Tswana, Twi and Yoruba are now available for voice input.

Google will also be making a commitment of $5.8 million to support AI skilling and education across Sub-Saharan Africa.  The funding will go towards equipping students and workers with foundational AI and Cybersecurity Skills and also supporting non-profit leaders and the public sector with foundational AI skills. The recipients of the funding, which includes the Data Scientists Network Foundation, will be provided with a $1.5 million grant to create a program that trains unemployed and vulnerable Nigerians on digital and tech training.

The next decade is predicted to be Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital decade, whereby half of the population will gain access to the internet, thereby unlocking opportunities for growth and development.  Google’s financial commitment is a step in the right direction to enhance connectivity, drive innovation and support local entrepreneurs across the continent.  

The digital opportunities of Sub-Saharan Africa

• Empowering business and driving economic growth: With the use of Google tools, online businesses have been empowering operations, thereby creating jobs and improving the economy.
• This highlights a new pathway for the digital inclusion of non-English speakers who often engage with English-based businesses daily.
• Unlocking skills and creating jobs: Through developer scholarships and digital skills for Africa, 6.5 million individuals have been trained with essential skills. 
• Expanding access and connecting communities: Through Google Maps, 82% of online adults in Sub-Saharan Africa use Google Maps to navigate their daily lives.
• Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation: A good amount of online adults identify as entrepreneurs. The Google Accelerator program and the Black Founders Fund provide tools, resources and mentorship to turn innovative ideas into successful businesses. 
• The Promise of Artificial Intelligence to Solve Africans’ pressing challenges: AI helps to solve some of Africa’s problems. From the health sector to enhancing agricultural productivity. 

SOURCES

• https://techpoint.africa/2024/10/29/google-hausa-igbo-yoruba-search/
• https://blog.google/intl/en-africa/company-news/outreach-and-initiatives/unlocking-digital-opportunity-in-africa/