Bonaventure Dossou

Just Zwennicker, a data engineer who created a machine translation system for Sranan Tongo, and Bonaventure Dossou, a Ph.D. student focusing on low-resource languages, explore the importance of NLP for local language communities. They discuss the challenges of data scarcity and the need for representation in technology, particularly for African languages. The conversation highlights grassroots initiatives like Masakane, which empowers native speakers to enhance linguistic diversity in NLP systems, ensuring their languages thrive in the digital age.

Bonaventure Dossou, an AI researcher at Mila and Google AI, is on a mission to harness natural language processing for global betterment, particularly in Africa. He recounts his unique journey from aspiring gynecologist to AI expert, emphasizing the importance of making technology accessible. The conversation highlights innovative approaches in drug discovery to combat antimicrobial resistance. Dossou also champions linguistic inclusion, working to preserve cultural identity through technology in low-resourced languages. His passion inspires a vision of a brighter future for education and healthcare.