Technology giant Google has expanded the language capabilities of its artificial intelligence powered search tools by adding Yoruba and Hausa, two of Nigeria’s most widely spoken languages, to its AI Overviews and AI Mode features. The update allows users to ask questions and receive AI generated summaries in their native languages directly within the Google Search environment.
The new development means that users can now type or speak queries in Yoruba or Hausa and receive responses generated through the company’s advanced AI search systems. According to Google, the update forms part of a broader effort to make digital information more accessible to people who are more comfortable communicating in their local languages rather than English.
With the addition of Yoruba and Hausa, Google’s AI powered search services in Africa now support 13 languages, including Kiswahili, Wolof, Afrikaans, Kinyarwanda, Akan, Oromoo, Amharic, Somali, Setswana, isiZulu and Sesotho. The company explained that the languages were selected based on search activity across the continent to ensure that AI driven tools remain relevant to diverse user communities.
Speaking on the development, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade said improvements in language understanding driven by Google’s custom version of Gemini had enabled the company to extend advanced AI search capabilities to more African languages. He noted that the goal is to ensure users can interact with search tools in ways that feel natural and useful.
Nigeria is home to more than 500 languages, with Hausa and Yoruba among the most widely spoken. Analysts say integrating these languages into AI search platforms could reduce barriers for millions of users who prefer to search for information in their mother tongue.
The update also comes shortly after Google introduced WAXAL, an open source speech database developed in collaboration with African universities to support the creation of speech recognition systems and voice assistants tailored for African languages.
Industry observers say the expansion reflects Google’s wider strategy to localise artificial intelligence tools across Africa, enabling users to access information more easily through familiar linguistic and cultural contexts while strengthening the digital ecosystem on the continent