Botswana Innovators Launch First AI System Capable of Speaking Setswana
Botswana innovators Kitso Speaks and Glen Mokoka have created the first AI system that speaks Setswana, advancing Natural Language Processing and increasing technology accessibility for Setswana speakers. The AI can assist in education and healthcare while addressing the challenges of limited digital resources in Setswana and the complexities of its grammar. The developers plan to incorporate regional dialects to ensure inclusivity.
In a groundbreaking achievement, Botswana innovators Kitso Speaks and Glen Mokoka have developed the first artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of understanding and communicating in Setswana. This significant advancement in Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a crucial step toward increasing technology accessibility for speakers of Setswana, facilitating their interaction in a language that resonates more closely with their cultural identity.
Kitso Speaks articulated his motivation behind this innovation, stating, “I grew up seeing how technology was advancing globally, but it felt like our languages and cultures were being left behind.” He believed it was essential to create an AI that would engage effortlessly with the Setswana language. His partnership with Glen Mokoka, who possesses extensive experience in software engineering and a deep appreciation for African languages, was pivotal in bringing this vision to fruition.
Mokoka elaborated on the concept of AI, describing it as a sophisticated computer program that can process, understand, and generate human language. He highlighted various applications for this technology, including educational tools that assist students in learning Setswana and healthcare services that provide medical information in the language, thus enhancing access for rural communities. Additionally, businesses could leverage the AI for functions such as customer service and accounting communications in Setswana.
The development of the Setswana AI was not without its challenges. The innovators encountered significant obstacles due to the scarcity of digital resources available for the language. “We had to start from scratch. We collected books, newspapers, and even recorded conversations to build a dataset for the AI to learn from,” Speaks remarked. Furthermore, Mokoka noted the complexity of Setswana grammar, explaining that the application of prefixes and suffixes can dramatically alter a word’s meaning, which posed considerable difficulties in training the AI to recognize these nuances.
Currently, the AI functions effectively in standard Setswana; however, the developers are actively working towards incorporating regional dialects to enhance its inclusivity. This initiative represents a remarkable stride in promoting linguistic diversity within the technological landscape.
In conclusion, the development of the first AI that communicates in Setswana by Kitso Speaks and Glen Mokoka marks a significant milestone in technology accessibility for Setswana speakers. This innovative project not only addresses cultural and linguistic challenges but also offers practical applications in education, healthcare, and business. As the team continues to work on integrating regional dialects, this initiative exemplifies the potential of technology to empower local languages in a globalized world.
Original Source: globalsouthworld.com
