Artificial intelligence: YIRI platform aims to improve digital access through local languages

Launched on 15 October 2026 at Hubtech Ivoire in Abidjan, YIRI combines social networking and online commerce to let users communicate and sell products in local languages. Led by Dr. Isaac Bayoh and FuturAfric Intelligence Artificielle, the platform also aims to preserve Ivorian cultural heritage using AI. It currently covers six local languages, with Baoulé and Dioula 70% complete; its corpus includes about 50,000 translated sentences and 300 translated and annotated audio files. The organizers host the data locally and aim to extend the project to 80% of West Africa within three years, with potential applications in agriculture, health, education and commerce.