Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria

Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria

Google has expanded its AI‑powered Search features to support Nigeria’s Yorùbá and Hausa languages, enabling millions of users to interact with AI Search in their mother tongues. The update allows Nigerians to ask complex questions, either by typing or using voice input, and receive AI-generated summaries, insights, and conversational responses in their preferred language.

Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, said the rollout is part of the company’s broader effort to make AI more inclusive across Africa. He explained that the system goes beyond simple translation, using advanced language understanding to provide contextually relevant and culturally grounded answers.

“This development ensures Nigerians can converse with search in their local languages, making information more useful and accessible to everyone,” Kola-Ogunlade said. He highlighted that a student in Kano can ask questions in Hausa, while a trader in Ibadan can seek business insights in Yorùbá, demonstrating the practical impact of the update.

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The expansion brings the total number of African languages supported by Google’s AI Search features to 13, including Kiswahili, Wolof, Amharic, isiZulu, and Afrikaans, among others. Users can access the feature via the Google app on Android or iOS or through the web version of Search by selecting AI Mode and entering queries in Yorùbá or Hausa.

Experts say the update addresses the digital language divide in Nigeria and across Africa, helping users who are more comfortable in their native languages access AI tools for learning, research, business, and daily problem-solving. It also supports digital inclusion, empowering more people to participate in the AI-driven online economy.

The initiative aligns with Google’s global mission to make information universally accessible and useful, reflecting a growing emphasis on local language AI technologies in Africa.

Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria