Simba AI: Pioneer chatbot saving indigenous languages

Kenya has entered the global artificial intelligence race with the debut of Simba AI, the continent’s pioneer AI chatbot capable of translating English into various local dialects.

Simba AI is a collaborative effort involving Simba AI and Lish AI Labs.

It is a pioneering chatbot developed by Kenyan developers in conjunction with their US counterparts to bridge the continent's existing information gap.

“With Simba AI, we are sourcing data from our local platforms to feed into the chatbot so that it can respond to any question about Africa. We want local communities to interact with AI in their own languages,” Simba AI chairman Mark Matunga said.

Mutunga noted that, while other AI models have efficiently provided information in a rapidly changing world, there has been limited representation of Africa as a continent.

The new chatbot will encourage local youth to contribute significantly to the data that will be the lifeline of Simba AI.

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“With us generating the data here in Kenya, we are going to dispel misinformation about Africa because we will be feeding the model with real and true data from our end,” he stated.

The launch of the Simba AI initiative also comes with the establishment of an AI factory that serves as a training base for youth.

Inside the AI factory based in Nakuru, young people are trained to advance the AI model, source and validate data, and develop skills in software development, analysis, labelling, and creation of machine learning models.

Those trained can now utilise AI models to create solutions for businesses by applying their software development skills. Within the AI factory, the team of experts is also collecting various types of data to empower the chatbot to tackle a wide range of questions and challenges.

However, with the rapid decline of indigenous languages, Simba AI, according to its developers, will be among the emerging technologies aimed at enhancing multilingual education and preserving indigenous languages.

“What sets Simba AI apart from the rest is that it has a long-term memory. As youth actively engage in this project, this gives them a chance to be developers of emerging technologies rather than just consumers of what has been created,” John Karanja, one of the developers, explained.

According to UNESCO, at least 40 per cent of the estimated 7,000 spoken languages worldwide are endangered, with a language disappearing on average every two weeks, erasing the cultural and intellectual heritage of communities.

Though Kenya is a multilingual nation with many indigenous languages, over eight are classified as severely endangered according to the World Atlas of Languages. Indigenous languages such as Terik, El Molo, Ogiek, Omotik, Bong'om, Sogoo, Suba, and Yaaku are at risk of being lost.

AI technologies built by local developers might, however, shed light on these languages once incorporated into the models.

“With Simba, we can develop even more of our disappearing languages, allowing the new and emerging generations to interact. We are currently incorporating a news feature that will utilise voice to communicate verbally in indigenous languages,” Mutunga added.

He also stated, “AI will give life to our indigenous languages because we now have a platform to preserve them.”

Although still under development, the chatbot can recognise a few local languages, including Meru, Kikuyu, and Kalenjin.

Lish AI Labs Director Mr Dan Njiriri mentioned that the opportunities created by technological advancements enable youth to leverage AI for income generation and to reshape various institutions.

“We have developed an AI curriculum for Technical and Vocational Institutions, and we will train instructors on how to mainstream this into the curriculum. This will enable many youths to access a variety of opportunities in the digital world,” he noted.

Simba AI CEO Randy Faulkner stated that ethical considerations, including data privacy, fairness, and protection against harmful attacks, have been integrated into AI development.

“Responsible and ethical AI use offers Kenya a path to innovation and growth, positioning the nation as a leader in technological advancement across Africa and globally,” Faulkner concluded.