In Senegal, Awa assistant aims to bring Wolof and Pulaar into conversational AI

Senegalese start-up Andakia is preparing to launch Awa, a conversational assistant designed to understand and respond in Wolof and Pulaar. The tool was developed by two young Senegalese entrepreneurs, according to a report by RFI Afrique.

The project is based on the use of local languages in interactions with artificial intelligence. Its stated aim is to make these tools more accessible to people who speak Wolof or Pulaar.

A tool ahead of its official launch

RFI Afrique featured Andakia ahead of Awa’s official launch. Available information describes an assistant able to interact in both languages, without specifying the conditions under which it will be made available or the uses for which it is intended.

Wolof and Pulaar at the heart of the project

By integrating Wolof and Pulaar into a conversational assistant, Andakia places African languages at the centre of its development. The initiative is presented as a response to the need to facilitate access to artificial intelligence for speakers of local languages.