Microsoft is building AI for the global south
Microsoft recently launched Project Gecko, a new research effort to build AI tools for languages and communities that usually don't get much tech attention.
Teaming up with researchers in India and Africa, they're starting with real-world problems in agriculture, with plans to expand into education and healthcare in the future—especially in places where generative AI hasn't made much impact yet.
How does it work?
Gecko uses a platform called VeLLM to create multilingual Copilots powered by local community data.
It's all about supporting languages like Kiswahili, Hindi, and Kikuyu using speech models and synthetic data.
Plus, they're designing speech-first interfaces so people who prefer talking over typing can actually use these tools.
Local communities help shape the tech from the ground up.
Why this matters
Project Gecko is aiming big: making practical AI that actually fits into people's daily lives around the world—not just in English or major cities.
They're focusing on building trust, making sure the tech is useful and fair, and adapting language models to fit different cultures.
The goal? Smarter tools for everyone, not just a lucky few.