Tech expert unveils voice-first AI platform

Nigerian software engineer Kingsley Udoma and his team have introduced a voice-first artificial intelligence system called Theresa AI. The system is designed to assist users in understanding any topic they may be struggling with, be it an assignment, a work problem, or a simple curiosity. Udoma and his co-founders, Jide Loye and Israel Akpan, unveiled the AI recently.

Udoma explained that the inspiration for Theresa AI came from observing people who often struggled to grasp information after reading or hearing it multiple times. He noted, "The problem was never a lack of content. After all, the internet is drowning in content. What I noticed was missing was somebody to actually talk to. So, instead of building another app to scroll through, my team built something that listens, responds, and thinks alongside you in real time."

What sets Theresa AI apart is its natural interaction with users. Users can ask questions out loud, and the AI responds with an answer out loud, eliminating the need for typing. Theresa AI can walk users through complex problems step by step, providing diagrams and flowcharts as it goes. The AI system also adapts to the user's tone, slowing down and exploring different angles if it detects confusion.

The co-founders of Theresa AI emphasized that the system understands and responds in several African languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, French, and Spanish, making help accessible beyond just English speakers. Theresa AI is currently in testing phase with a wider rollout planned across Nigeria. Udoma aims to provide Nigerians with a 24/7 companion they can talk to, as one-on-one support is often unavailable in the country.

Udoma previously developed NounPaddi, an EdTech platform serving over 1,600 students at the National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos. There have been around half a dozen independent creators and more than 120 broader AI ventures that have launched conversational or localized large language models and AI agents inspired by ChatGPT in recent years. Victor, a Senior Correspondent at Punch Newspapers' Features Desk, reported this story, showcasing his experience in writing, research, and journalistic integrity.