Building Small Language Models that works within a Domain requires more than technical expertise

Описание: At EqualyzAI, we believe that if you want to build solutions that truly solve people’s problems, you must start with the real data of the people.

Yes, general-purpose models are important, they provide the foundational layer. But what makes AI truly impactful is when domain expertise meets technical expertise.

Our first small language model, now widely used in family planning with the support of the Gates Foundation, is a strong example. To build it, we partnered with over 500 family planning counselors who deeply understand the language, the context, and the realities of those they serve.

We then spent two years labeling call-center data from real people seeking guidance. This gave us not just data, but nuance, terminology, and idiolectal insights you cannot scrape online. The result? A solution that works because it speaks the language of its users.

This is a call to action for African governments, innovators, and academia:

Provide foundational models that others can build on.

Invest in infrastructure that makes localized AI possible.

Enable academia to create benchmarks, set standards, and push new frontiers of impact.

Africa’s AI future depends not just on technology, but on domain expertise rooted in our lived realities.

#EqualyzAI #AIforAfrica #DomainExpertise #SmallLanguageModels #GAISA25 #UNGA80