Google has expanded its artificial intelligence–powered search tools to support 13 African languages, including Somali language, Ethiopian languages Afaan Oromoo, and Amharic in a move aimed at widening access to digital services across the continent.
The update introduces local language support for Google’s AI search features, enabling users to interact with the platform using text, voice, or images in their preferred languages. The company said the expansion is intended to make AI tools more accessible to millions of African users who rely on local languages for everyday communication.
In addition to Afaan Oromoo, Amharic, and Somali, the newly supported languages include Afrikaans, Akan, Hausa, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, Sesotho, Setswana, Wolof, Yorùbá, and isiZulu. Google said the selection reflects growing demand for digital services in widely spoken African languages.
The company said expanding AI capabilities to African languages is part of broader efforts to improve digital inclusion and ensure emerging technologies are accessible to users beyond English-dominant platforms.
