Orange, a leading telecommunications company, has announced a partnership with Meta and OpenAI to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models specifically tailored to African languages.
This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and empower communities across the continent.
“Orange intends to help drive AI innovation in these regional languages, including by collaborating on these new AI models with local startups and other technology companies, and by doing so, to mitigate the growing digital divide faced by people all across the African continent,” says Orange.
Key Focus Areas
- Language Model Development:
- Fine-tuning: Orange will collaborate with Meta and OpenAI to fine-tune existing large language models (LLMs) like Meta’s Llama and OpenAI’s Whisper to better understand and process African languages, including Wolof and Pulaar.
- Custom Model Creation: The partnership will work towards developing custom AI models capable of natural language processing in these languages, enabling seamless communication between customers and Orange’s sales and support teams.
- Open-Source Accessibility:
- Free License: Orange plans to make these AI models available to the public under a free, non-commercial license, fostering innovation in fields like healthcare, education, and public services.
- Collaboration with Startups: The company will collaborate with local startups and technology companies to further advance AI capabilities in African languages.
- Digital Inclusion:
- Empowering Communities: By developing AI models that understand and respond to African languages, Orange aims to empower communities, especially those with limited digital literacy, to benefit from the advantages of AI technology.
- Addressing the Digital Divide: This initiative is a significant step towards mitigating the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to technology across the African continent.
Additional Collaboration with OpenAI
Beyond the language model development, Orange and OpenAI have signed a separate agreement to:
- Access to OpenAI Models: Orange will gain direct access to OpenAI’s advanced AI models, including those hosted in European data centres, enabling the development of innovative solutions within the European market.
- AI-Powered Voice Interactions: The partnership will explore AI-driven voice interaction capabilities to enhance customer experiences.
Responsible AI
Orange is committed to responsible AI practices, prioritizing the use of appropriate AI solutions for specific use cases.
By carefully selecting and deploying AI models, the company aims to minimize environmental impact and reduce costs while maximizing the benefits of AI technology.
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