Science & Tech · AI · 1 hr ago
Data Science Nigeria joins five-year effort to expand AI in local languages
Data Science Nigeria has joined a five-year global commitment to make artificial intelligence work better in people’s own languages and voices.
The commitment, convened by the Gates Foundation, has 60 initial signatories and aims to help 3.4 billion people whose languages are underrepresented in AI.
It was announced around the Gates Foundation Goalkeepers 2026 event in New York.
The work will support language data, AI models, testing benchmarks, practical uses, responsible data practices and policy.
Many of the world’s roughly 7,000 languages are poorly served by AI, including languages and contexts across Africa.
The effort matters because better representation could help more people use AI in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture and finance.
Data Science Nigeria says it will contribute its experience in talent, research and local innovation as it continues work to strengthen Africa’s role in shaping AI.
Data Science Nigeria has joined a five-year global commitment to make AI more useful to people whose languages are underrepresented in AI models.
The commitment aims to help 3.4 billion people access and use AI in their own language and voice.
Convened by the Gates Foundation, it has 60 initial signatories from technology, research, development, government and community organisations.
The work will focus on language data, models, benchmarks, practical applications, responsible data practices and enabling policy.
Data Science Nigeria says the effort supports its goal of helping Africa contribute to how AI is researched, developed and applied.
- Who
- Data Science Nigeria and 60 other initial signatories, in a commitment convened by the Gates Foundation.
- What
- They joined a five-year effort to improve access to AI in underrepresented languages.
- When
- Announced around Gates Foundation Goalkeepers 2026.
- Where
- New York.
- Why
- To help 3.4 billion people whose languages are underrepresented in AI models use AI in their own language and voice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Data Science Nigeria has worked on AI talent development, research, technical communities, locally relevant innovation and strategic partnerships.
The Gates Foundation-convened commitment was announced in New York.
- Initial signatories
- 60
- People targeted
- 3.4 billion
- Commitment length
- Five years
- Languages spoken globally
- Approximately 7,000
- Commitment areas
- Language data, models, benchmarks, practical applications, responsible data practices and enabling policy
What people are saying
Inclusive AI begins with whose realities our datasets reflect and whose talent we equip to build. Our realities must be represented in the data. Our researchers must contribute to science. Our talent must have the capacity to build, and our communities must share in the opportunities AI creates.
This is both an opportunity and a responsibility
Inclusion cannot end with access to technologies developed elsewhere. Africa must have the capacity and agency to shape the AI future.
Sources
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