Orange has announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI and Meta. The collaboration aims to fine-tune AI models for regional African languages. This initiative will help Orange customers communicate naturally in local languages for customer support and sales.
The project will also provide open-source AI models for free non-commercial use, such as public health and education services. Orange plans to collaborate with local startups and tech companies to drive innovation and reduce Africa’s digital divide.
The project starts in early 2025, focusing on Wolof and Pulaar, spoken by over 22 million people in West Africa.
A Vision for Inclusive AI
Orange will fine-tune OpenAI’s Whisper speech model and Meta’s Llama text model with diverse examples of these regional languages. These models will improve AI’s ability to understand and respond in African languages.
“Orange’s vision is to make AI and other related advances accessible to all, including illiterate populations,” the company said. “The initiative is a blueprint for how AI can be used to benefit those currently excluded.”
In the long term, Orange aims to enable AI models to recognize all African languages spoken in its 18-country footprint.
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Expanding OpenAI Access in Europe
In addition, Orange will gain direct access to OpenAI models for the first time in Europe. These models will be hosted in European data centers. Orange will use them to enhance its services and deliver AI-based voice interactions for customers.
This partnership will also allow Orange to access OpenAI’s latest AI models for key use cases. The company plans to use “Responsible AI” to minimize environmental impact and costs.
Orange will make AI accessible to all and building a vibrant European AI ecosystem. The company promotes open-source projects to achieve affordable AI solutions.