A global coalition backed by the Gates Foundation, OpenAI Foundation and dozens of leading technology, research and development organisations has launched an ambitious effort to expand access to artificial intelligence for an estimated 3.4 billion people who speak languages that remain underrepresented in today’s AI systems.
The initiative, announced during the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers gathering in New York, brings together 60 initial signatories from across the AI ecosystem, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Anthropic, NVIDIA, UNICEF and the World Bank Group. The coalition has set a five-year goal of enabling billions of people to use AI tools in their own language and voice.
According to the coalition, only a small proportion of the world’s approximately 7,000 languages are currently well represented in the datasets used to train modern AI models. As a result, many communities face barriers to accessing AI-powered services, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture and public services.
The coalition plans to address the challenge by developing what it describes as an “open language layer”-shared language data infrastructure that AI developers and organisations worldwide can use. Participating groups will also work on language benchmarks, evaluation systems and applications designed to improve AI performance across underrepresented languages.
The effort goes beyond text translation, with a significant focus on voice-based interactions. Organisers say voice capabilities are particularly important in regions where literacy levels, internet access or limited digital infrastructure can make text-based systems less practical. The goal is to enable people to interact with AI naturally through speech while preserving linguistic and cultural nuances.
Bill Gates has emerged as one of the initiative’s most prominent advocates through the Gates Foundation’s broader push for what it describes as equitable access to AI. Speaking at the Goalkeepers event, Gates argued that artificial intelligence could accelerate progress in healthcare, education and economic development if its benefits are made available to people often excluded from technological advances.
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The coalition’s organisers say success will depend not only on technology development but also on responsible governance, privacy protections and community participation. The initiative emphasises consent, data sovereignty, and local involvement in creating language datasets to ensure AI systems reflect the needs of the communities they are intended to serve.
The launch comes amid growing concern that advances in artificial intelligence could widen existing digital divides if language barriers go unaddressed. Supporters of the initiative argue that improving AI’s ability to understand and communicate in a broader range of languages could help make emerging technologies more accessible to communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America and other underserved regions.
While the coalition has outlined a broad roadmap, participating organisations said they will develop further details on governance structures, funding arrangements and implementation plans collaboratively over the coming year. The group has also invited additional governments, researchers, companies and civil society organisations to join the effort as it works towards its five-year target.
Senior AI Writer
Bio: Okikiola is a writer and AI enthusiast with a background in Office Technology and Management from the Federal Polytechnic Offa. She went further to study an MSc in International Business at De Montfort University (DMU). With extensive work experience across administrative and business roles, she now focuses on exploring how artificial intelligence can transform work, innovation, and everyday life.