Google AI Search Yoruba Hausa support expands in Nigeria, allowing users to access AI-powered summaries and ask questions in local languages
Google has expanded the language support of its Artificial Intelligence-powered search features to include Yorùbá and Hausa in Nigeria, a move aimed at improving digital access for millions of local language speakers.
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The announcement was made by Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Kola-Ogunlade said the update allows speakers of the two Nigerian languages to access AI-powered search experiences in their mother tongue, including quick summaries and conversational exploration.
The Google AI Search Yoruba Hausa expansion forms part of the company’s broader strategy to make Artificial Intelligence more inclusive across Africa.
According to the company, the latest update increases the number of African languages supported by its AI Search features to 13.
Kola-Ogunlade explained that the new capability will enable more Nigerians to interact with search tools in familiar languages while seeking information online.
The development means a student in Kano can ask questions in Hausa, while a trader in Ibadan can search for advice in Yorùbá.
“Building a truly global search goes far beyond translation; it requires a nuanced understanding of local information,” Kola-Ogunlade said.
“With the advanced multimodal and reasoning capabilities of our custom version of Gemini in search, we have made huge strides in language understanding.
“This ensures our most advanced AI search capabilities are locally relevant and useful in each new language we support.”
Kola-Ogunlade added that the improvement will allow users to ask complex questions through text or voice while exploring the web in a more natural way.
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The company said the expansion is designed to make online information more accessible and helpful for millions of Nigerians who prefer to communicate in their native languages.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
