Spitch: The AI Solving African Language Barriers

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms industries, innovators are racing to make their mark. During an internal project, Temiloluwa Babalola noticed a critical flaw—existing speech models struggled with African languages and accents. Determined to change this, he launched Spitch in 2023, an AI-powered speech model designed to bridge this gap and ensure African voices are accurately understood in the AI revolution. 

“We see ourselves as the language infrastructure on which businesses and developers can build impactful products,” he explains. Language drives communication in business, entertainment, and beyond, and we believe we can foster that.” 

Babalola envisions Spitch as the ElevenLabs of Africa, referencing the speech synthesis company known for its natural-sounding AI voices. For many Africans, the inability of AI-driven speech recognition to process their languages and accents has long been a barrier to accessing digital services. While major companies like Google and Microsoft have developed models that accommodate widely spoken languages, African languages have often been overlooked. Spitch aims to change that by offering accurate voice recognition and translation for a continent rich in linguistic diversity. 

However, some Nigerians argue that the country has more pressing concerns—such as infrastructure and economic stability—than AI-driven language solutions. Critics question whether prioritizing technology in a struggling economy is the right move. But Babalola maintains a balanced view. “We’ll contribute to society how we can. For us, that means solving language problems,” he says. His perspective resonates with many who believe that innovation and development can happen in parallel.

Despite skepticism from some quarters, Spitch has been widely embraced as a step toward greater representation in AI. Historically, African voices and dialects have been underrepresented in global technology, leading to challenges ranging from inaccurate speech-to-text transcriptions to AI assistants struggling with African accents. By training Spitch to understand and process local languages better, Babalola hopes to give Africans a tool that feels truly theirs.

AI-powered translation marks a milestone in breaking language barriers, but human oversight remains crucial—especially in areas requiring cultural sensitivity and professional judgment. Babalola’s work reveals broader anxieties about AI’s impact on jobs, particularly in translation. But rather than replacing human translators, he sees a more collaborative future. 

“AI can handle many translation tasks, but human translators are still essential for nuanced, high-accuracy work in industries like law and medicine,” he explains. “This shifts their role from simply translating to working alongside AI.” 

The rapid growth of AI in all industries mirrors a classic economic pattern known as the Jevons paradox: as technology makes something more efficient and accessible, demand for it rises rather than falls. This trend is unfolding in real-time, as seen with DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that boasts ChatGPT-level performance at a fraction of the cost. Similarly, Spitch could fuel greater adoption of African languages in tech, rather than diminishing their relevance.

The AI boom is accelerating, and Spitch is carving out its place in this evolving landscape. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries worldwide, Nigerian entrepreneurs like Babalola are active players in the global tech revolution. If Spitch succeeds, it could set a precedent for more African-led innovation in AI, proving that the continent is not just a consumer of technology but a contributor to its advancement.