https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250514/we-can-be-creators-of-our-own-solutions-co-founder-of-ethiopian-ai-tool-for-african-languages-1073076543.html
‘We Can Be Creators of Our Own Solutions’: Co-Founder of Ethiopian AI Tool for African Languages
‘We Can Be Creators of Our Own Solutions’: Co-Founder of Ethiopian AI Tool for African Languages
Sputnik Africa
In a rapidly evolving digital world, Ethiopia’s Hasab AI is emerging as a pioneer in voice intelligence platforms for low-resource and African languages. 14.05.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-05-14T18:43+0200
2025-05-14T18:43+0200
2025-05-14T18:43+0200
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Kidus Yared, co-founder of Hasab AI, shared with Sputnik Africa his insights into the role of African startups in shaping the continent’s AI future, the importance of collaboration, and the challenges of building localized tech solutions.According to Yared, fostering an African AI network is pivotal for sustainable tech development across the continent.Hasab AI is dedicated to addressing local challenges through AI-powered solutions, particularly by focusing on Ethiopia's rich linguistic diversity.This approach is at the heart of Hasab AI’s mission to provide speech-to-text services in Africa’s low-resource languages, aiming to bridge communication gaps and promote inclusion.Yared also highlighted the lessons learned from attending key African tech summits in Kigali and Nairobi, where he witnessed firsthand the benefits of cross-border partnerships and open dialogue between entrepreneurs and policymakers. He stressed that such ecosystems, like those seen in Rwanda, create fertile grounds for startups to flourish and collaborate directly with decision-makers.Despite the progress, significant challenges remain, especially in infrastructure and access to resources.In his vision for the continent, Yared believes that AI can play a transformative role not only in communication but also in sectors like agriculture and healthcare. However, he warns against the risk of digital colonialism and underlines the urgency for Africa to move fast and set its own AI agenda.
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‘We Can Be Creators of Our Own Solutions’: Co-Founder of Ethiopian AI Tool for African Languages
Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
In a rapidly evolving digital world, Ethiopia’s Hasab AI is emerging as a pioneer in voice intelligence platforms for low-resource and African languages.
Kidus Yared, co-founder of Hasab AI, shared with Sputnik Africa his insights into the role of African startups in shaping the continent’s AI future, the importance of collaboration, and the challenges of building localized tech solutions.
According to Yared, fostering an African AI network is pivotal for sustainable tech development across the continent.
"There's an old African proverb, right? It says, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together," he noted, emphasizing that collaboration among African countries is crucial for technological progress and problem-solving.
Hasab AI is dedicated to addressing local challenges through AI-powered solutions, particularly by focusing on Ethiopia's rich linguistic diversity.
"We can be leaders of our own solutions. We can be creators of our solutions. Because at the first hand, we know our problems, we've lived through it," Yared stated.
This approach is at the heart of Hasab AI’s mission to provide speech-to-text services in Africa’s low-resource languages, aiming to bridge communication gaps and promote inclusion.
Yared also highlighted the lessons learned from attending key African tech summits in Kigali and Nairobi, where he witnessed firsthand the benefits of cross-border partnerships and open dialogue between entrepreneurs and policymakers. He stressed that such ecosystems, like those seen in Rwanda, create fertile grounds for startups to flourish and collaborate directly with decision-makers.
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain, especially in infrastructure and access to resources.
"Language models, AI solutions are very, very resource intensive. If you've seen the AI companies in the West, even the amount of money they raise to even start operations is in millions of dollars," Yared explained, pointing to the financial and technical hurdles African startups must overcome.
In his vision for the continent, Yared believes that AI can play a transformative role not only in communication but also in sectors like agriculture and healthcare. However, he warns against the risk of digital colonialism and underlines the urgency for Africa to move fast and set its own AI agenda.
