The $100 YarnGPT model that’s teaching AU to speak in Nigerian English
- Azeez Ayanniyi bombed a job interview at a Nigerian AI company focused on text-to-speech systems.
- He built YarnGPT to cater to Nigerian accents and languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Pidgin.
- YarnGPT has attracted over 1,500 active users and sparked conversations with a major Nigerian telecom.
Ayanniyi's journey with YarnGPT exemplifies the resilience and innovation of African developers in the face of infrastructural challenges. His focus on local languages and accents is crucial for creating inclusive AI solutions that resonate with the diverse populations in Nigeria and beyond. However, the ongoing struggle for adequate resources and funding remains a significant barrier that needs addressing to fully realize the potential of AI in Africa.
