A final-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Saheed Azeez, has successfully developed a groundbreaking text-to-speech artificial intelligence (AI) model. Dubbed YarnGPT, the model stands out for its ability to read text in a clear Nigerian accent, making it more relatable and accessible for local users.
Unlike many existing text-to-speech models that predominantly feature American or European accents, YarnGPT is designed with Nigerian linguistic nuances in mind. According to Azeez, his motivation stemmed from a lack of similar models catering to African languages. He also noted that an unsuccessful job interview with a tech company working on similar technology pushed him to refine his approach and build his own version.
The development process involved extensive research and data collection. Azeez revealed that he relied on audio and transcriptions from movies to create a suitable dataset for training the model. Despite challenges such as data quality variations and financial constraints, he successfully built a working prototype, primarily using Python and machine-learning libraries.
One of the standout features of YarnGPT is its ability to incorporate multiple male and female voices, ensuring a diverse range of Nigerian accents. The potential applications for the model are vast, with Azeez highlighting its use in audiobooks and educational tools. He believes having an audiobook or lecture reader with a Nigerian accent could significantly enhance accessibility and comprehension for local audiences.
While there are no immediate plans to commercialize the model, Azeez intends to release it as an open-source project to benefit a wider audience. He is already working on an improved version, which he expects to unveil within weeks.
Reflecting on the challenges of balancing his academic work with the project, Azeez acknowledged the difficulties but emphasized that the effort was worthwhile. “If I hadn’t worked on this, I’d have spent a large part of my life wondering why,” he said.
As he approaches graduation, Azeez is open to various career paths but leans toward continuing in AI rather than traditional mechanical engineering. He expressed confidence in his chosen direction, stating that his journey in AI has been fulfilling and that he looks forward to future innovations.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, commended Azeez’s achievement on behalf of the university’s Senate, staff, and students, wishing him success in his AI journey.
Wow inspiring