Key Points
- Orange partners with OpenAI and Meta for African language translation.
- AI models will enhance local language communication in West Africa.
- Focus includes customer support, public health, and education applications.
A partnership between OpenAI and Meta to improve large language models (LLMs) for interpreting regional African languages was announced by French telecom operator Orange on Tuesday.Â
Orange announces AI partnership to bridge African language gaps
The program is a component of the business’s larger endeavor to enhance communication and accessibility in underprivileged areas.
According to a statement from Orange, the project is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2025 and will initially concentrate on incorporating West African regional languages into OpenAI’s “Whisper” and Meta’s “Llama” software.
English is the primary language used to train the majority of current AI language models; other languages are frequently disregarded since there is insufficient training data.
 According to an Orange representative, the company’s data resources and proficiency in these languages would help close this gap and allow for more thorough training of the AI models.
The spokeswoman told Reuters, “We have experience with these languages and in developing our own apps in these languages for customer service because we’re used to working with these countries.”
Improving accessibility: Local language AI for customer support
The AI models will improve accessibility for users in multilingual areas by enabling Orange customers to speak with customer service in their native tongues.
In addition to providing customer assistance, the models will be made accessible for non-commercial uses including raising awareness of public health issues and aiding educational initiatives.
Orange pointed out that the project might significantly improve communication and information sharing in places where linguistic inclusion and technological access are still problems.
Along with the African language translation project, Orange also said that it has partnered with OpenAI to provide direct access to its cutting-edge models in Europe.
The goal of this collaboration is to give Orange state-of-the-art resources to improve its services and innovation in a variety of fields.
Orange wants to increase its footprint in Africa and firmly establish itself as a pioneer in technology and telecommunications by investing in AI-driven solutions and overcoming the language barrier.Â
