Google has broadened the language capabilities of its Artificial Intelligence-powered search tools by adding support for Yorùbá and Hausa in Nigeria.
The development was disclosed on Thursday by the Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, in a statement explaining the new update.
According to him, the upgrade enables users who speak the two Nigerian languages to interact with AI-driven search features in their native tongues, allowing them to obtain quick summaries of information and engage in conversational-style exploration while searching online.
Kola-Ogunlade noted that the move is part of Google’s wider strategy to make artificial intelligence technologies more inclusive across the African continent.
He explained that with the addition of Yorùbá and Hausa, the total number of African languages currently supported in Google’s AI Search features has increased to 13.
The Google official further stated that the update would help more Nigerians access information in languages they are most comfortable with when using search tools.
He said the improvement could allow different users to ask questions in their own languages while exploring information online. For instance, a student in Kano can now submit queries in Hausa, while a trader in Ibadan may request advice using Yorùbá.
“Building a truly global search goes far beyond translation; it requires a nuanced understanding of local information.
“With the advanced multimodal and reasoning capabilities of our custom version of Gemini in search, we have made huge strides in language understanding.
“This ensures our most advanced AI search capabilities are locally relevant and useful in each new language we support.
“This is about ensuring Nigerians can converse with search in their mother tongues, making information more helpful for everyone,” he said.
Kola-Ogunlade also pointed out that the new capability will allow users to submit more complex questions in their preferred language through either text or voice while navigating the internet in a more natural way.
The AI search features are powered by Google’s customised version of Gemini, which improves the system’s ability to understand different languages and provide more accurate responses based on local context.
What you should know
Google has been expanding its AI-powered search features globally to make information more accessible to users in different regions and languages.
By adding Yoruba and Hausa to its supported languages, the company is addressing the needs of millions of Nigerian speakers who rely on local languages for communication and learning.
The move also reflects the growing importance of African languages in technology development and digital inclusion, helping users access reliable information online in ways that feel more natural and culturally relevant.
