Viamo is supported by improvement companies in the US and the UK.

LAGOS:

Visually-impaired Nigerian Kehinde Olutubosun is a geography and animal fanatic who struggled to search out info as a result of he has no smartphone. However that’s altering, because of an Synthetic Intelligence-powered cell phone that works offline.

The service, launched by Canada-based Viamo in Nigeria final month, permits anybody – even in the midst of nowhere with out the web – to entry AI know-how.

Viamo makes use of a conventional handset to faucet into native cell phone networks to ship instructions or requests for info via SMS or voice calls.

It really works like different AI chatbots and can be utilized by illiterate individuals since it may be prompted by voice. Additionally it is cheaper.

“For people who find themselves not that financially buoyant, they nonetheless have this chance to make use of whilst little as 10 naira to ask a lot of questions that can truly profit them, I’m so joyful,” mentioned Olutubosun.

Viamo mentioned the system was focused on the world’s poorest and remotest communities and is being expanded to Pakistan, India and Tanzania after being first launched in Zambia.

Viamo is supported by improvement companies in the US and the UK, amongst others. UNICEF has partnered with Viamo to supply info on HIV, tropical illnesses, vitamin, water, sanitation and hygiene.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)