Google South Africa Launches AI Glossary in Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans

Google South Africa  has introduced an AI glossary that standardises 100 artificial intelligence–related terms in Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans, in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB).  The initiative represents a major step toward linguistic inclusion and digital accessibility for South African users.

The glossary was launched in Johannesburg as part of Google’s efforts to make technology more inclusive and culturally relevant. It aims to bridge the gap between English-dominated technical language and South Africa’s diverse linguistic landscape, allowing more people to understand and engage with discussions around artificial intelligence in their mother tongues.

The new glossary ensures that non-English speakers can more easily participate in the country’s growing digital economy by making AI concepts clear and relatable. It builds on Google’s broader goal of democratising technology and empowering communities through local language initiatives, following similar projects launched in Swahili and other African languages.

By expanding access to AI-related knowledge, the glossary supports South Africa’s commitment to fostering an inclusive digital future where technology becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion. Plans are already underway to extend the glossary to include more indigenous South African languages and additional AI terminology in future updates.