Sunbird AI

The Research Behind Sunflower Speech A few weeks ago, we released the Sunflower speech models—our initiative to bring high-performance, multimodal AI to 31+ Ugandan languages. Today, we’re sharing the deeper technical story. We recently presented our findings at AfricaNLP 2026 (EACL), detailing how we moved from traditional text-heavy systems to a "speech-first" architecture. Because many Ugandan languages are more frequently spoken than written, this shift isn't just a technical choice. It’s an essential step for digital inclusion. Whether you are a researcher, a developer, or just curious about the future of African NLP, all our resources are open and ready for you to explore. Dive into the details: The Paper: https://lnkd.in/d7er6kQC The Blog: https://lnkd.in/dBm6MqAM The Models: https://lnkd.in/dy5x-b_q #SunbirdAI #AIForSocialGood #ForAfricasManyVoices #ASR #AI4D

Best Paper Award at AfricaNLP 2026! 🏆 Big news from the team in Rabat: Sunbird AI took home the Best Paper award at @AfricaNLP (EACL 2026). Our paper, "Real-Time Spoken Instruction Following and Translation in Ugandan Languages," solves a major hurdle: latency. Most voice AI is slow because it has to translate speech to text, process it, and then turn it back to speech. We built a speech-to-response LLM that cuts out those middle steps entirely. The results: -Response times as low as 50ms. -Direct interaction in native Ugandan languages. -A multimodal approach that bridges audio and text for natural conversation. This award recognizes our commitment to making the AI revolution accessible to everyone, regardless of the language they speak. Huge congrats to the authors: Benjamin Akera, Tim Wenjie Hu, PATRICK WALUKAGGA, Nafula Evelyn Ouma YIGA GILBERT Engineer Bainomugisha, Ernest Mwebaze, and John Quinn. Read the full paper: https://lnkd.in/d7er6kQC Access the models on Hugging Face: https://lnkd.in/dkpzvCt9 #AfricaNLP #EACL2026 #UgandaTech #SunbirdAI #NLP #Innovation #AI4Good

How do we ensure "Energy for All" becomes a reality? By building the right tools for the right people. This past Thursday, we held a successful validation meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (@Uganda_MEMD). Our work in Lamwo District served as a critical case study, proving how AI and localized data can optimize rural electrification planning. The Ministry’s engagement underscores a powerful commitment to modernizing Uganda's energy sector through innovation. We are proud to support this vision and look forward to continued collaboration in building a brighter, more connected future for all Ugandans. #EnergyAccess #Uganda #Innovation #SunbirdAI #Partnership #DataForGood #CleanEnergy #AIForSocialGood

Happening NOW! Don’t miss out on the first Urban Data Dialogue Series. We’re talking city transformation and the power of data. Link to join: https://lnkd.in/d4h6sBxr

Are you an organisation that is thinking about how Artificial Intelligence can be used to solve real-world problems in africa? Book an AI clinic session with us for a practical, hands-on space where learning meets impact. What to expect: 1. Real use cases on how AI can be used for social good. 2. Guidance from AI experts at Sunbird AI 3. Opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, and network. Book a 30-minute slot with us: https://sunbird.ai/ #SunbirdAI #AIForSocialGood #InclusiveAI #EthicalAI #AIClinics

3 days to go! Join the Urban Data Dialogue Series as we explore how data is transforming cities. 🗓 26 March | ⏰ 3PM Register here: https://lnkd.in/d4h6sBxr #UrbanData

Eid Mubarak to everyone! May this joyous occasion bring happiness, peace, and blessings to all. 🌙✨🕌

We’re excited to announce PATRICK WALUKAGGA as one of the speakers at Deep Learning IndabaX Uganda 2026! Patrick is a Backend & Cloud Engineer with strong expertise in building reliable, scalable systems using Python, Django, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, and GCP. This year, Patrick will facilitate a session on Building with LLMs. Join us as we learn from his experience in building modern backend systems and supporting ML- enabled products. Georgina Curto, PhD, MBA ACM, Association for Computing Machinery United Nations University Deep Learning Indaba Google IFAAMAS Sunbird AI #IndabaXUganda2026 #AIinAfrica #ResponsibleAI

How do we achieve smart, data-driven cities? It’s a question at the heart of Uganda’s rapid urban expansion. At Sunbird AI, we believe the answer lies in using data to solve practical urban challenges,from optimizing revenue collection to improving waste management. As part of the DataCities Consortium (a partnership between Sunbird AI, United Nations Global Pulse, and ToroDev), we are working to turn this vision into a reality for Uganda’s newest cities. Join our Executive Director and Consortium Head, Dr. Ernest Mwebaze, alongside our partners for an in-depth webinar: “Building Better Cities with Data.” We’ll be sharing the strategies and tools currently shaping urban development in the region. 📅 26 March ⏰ 3:00 PM EAT 🔗 Register here:https://lnkd.in/dVQ66puF #SmartCities #DataDriven #UrbanInnovation #AI4Good #SunbirdAI #Datacities

Missed the Sunbird Open Forum? We recently launched the Sunflower Speech AI Ecosystem. If you weren't able to join us live, the full recording is now available. Watch to see live demonstrations of our speech models and learn how we are building open-source AI tools for the future. Watch the full session here: https://lnkd.in/dEpBwuRf #SunbirdAI #ForAfricasManyVoices #4IR #AIforSocialGood #OpenSource #ASR #SunflowerSpeech