Google has expanded its WAXAL speech dataset to include Kikuyu, Dholuo, and Luganda, aiming to boost artificial intelligence (AI) accessibility for millions of African language speakers. This initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide by enabling development of AI tools that understand local languages.

• The dataset launched in Nairobi on Tuesday, February 2, 2026, features 1,250 hours of transcribed natural speech and over 20 hours of high-quality studio recordings.
• Aisha Walcott-Bryantt, Head of Google Research Africa, emphasized that WAXAL will empower over 100 million people in Africa by fostering technology development in their own languages.
• Developed over three years in collaboration with partners like Makerere University, the dataset now covers 21 African languages and is available under a Creative Commons license.