upliftAI
We are a research and development group focused on uplifting the underserved society. We do this by accelerating technical innovations that can fight society’s greatest inequitiesinnovations that accelerate progress
We are here to accelerate breakthroughs in technical innovations that can fight society’s greatest inequities.
We do this by identifying foundational limitations hindering progress and then teaming up with like-minded groups to resolve them. We are here to solve the very hard problems — the ones that are commonly deemed too ambitious, too challenging, or simply impossible.
We make progress through sharp focus, relentless hard work, and genuine passion.
We are able to do what might seem impossible by bringing together the most innovative, driven, and humble minds from across the globe. We partner with like-minded individuals and organizations, pooling our resources, knowledge, and passion to turn ambitious ideas into tangible realities.
towards knowledge equity
project 540 — Accelerating the development of Speech Recognition Systems that work in Pakistan
Voice interfaces to computers are widely recognized for their potential to bridge the knowledge equity gap, particularly for individuals with limited or no literacy skills. In Pakistan, where this represents 42% of the adult population, or over 142 million individuals, the need for accessible technology is both urgent and impactful.
We are building the world’s largest open-source datasets for the top four languages spoken in Pakistan. Our aim is to accelerate the development of speech recognition systems that perform effectively within the country, thereby transforming how information is accessed and interacted with. By focusing on these languages, we are not just enhancing technology but are also ensuring it's inclusive and tailored to the local context.
This initiative has the potential to revolutionize daily life for millions, from improving access to education and healthcare to facilitating smoother, more effective communication. By empowering individuals with voice-activated tools, we're opening doors to opportunities that were previously out of reach, helping to bridge the digital divide and foster a more inclusive society. Through this work, we envision a future where everyone, regardless of literacy level, can benefit from the advances in technology.
project17B — Large-scale ConversationalAI experiments for Pakistan
We are conducting Pakistan's most comprehensive study on ConversationalAI. Our goal is to identify the critical investments and technical innovations needed to fully harness the potential of ConversationalAI within Pakistan — especially to benefit the population with lower literacy skills.
In our initial phase, we are giving ten thousand individuals from a diverse set of Pakistani regions access to a semi-supervised chatbot capable of communicating in users’ native language, such as Urdu and Pashto. This semi-supervised bot is available through a voice interface using WhatsApp voice notes — a widely used communication medium in Pakistan
The insights from this experiment will guide our future investments in the field of ConversationalAI, steering us towards a future where technology and knowledge are accessible to all Pakistanis irrespective of the privilege of literacy.