Accra, Ghana / Phnom Penh, Cambodia — An AI of Our Own (AAOO) is proud to announce the official launch of Voices of Our Own (V3O), a new mobile application designed to make it easier for speakers of indigenous and underrepresented languages to contribute voice data for artificial intelligence and speech technology development.
Developed through a Mozilla Common Voice-supported project, the V3O mobile app enables speakers of Dagbani in Ghana and Khmer in Cambodia to record and submit voice samples directly from their mobile devices, helping build open datasets that can power inclusive AI systems and digital tools.
The Android version of the application is now available, while an iOS version is currently undergoing approval and is expected to be released soon.
A key innovation of the V3O app is its ability to function offline, allowing users to record voice samples even without internet connectivity. Once a connection becomes available, recordings are automatically synchronized with the Mozilla Common Voice platform, reducing barriers to participation for communities with limited or unreliable internet access.
“Many speakers of indigenous languages face challenges contributing to digital platforms because of connectivity limitations,” said Sadik Shahadu, project lead for the initiative. “With V3O, we are making participation more accessible and ensuring that communities can actively shape the future of AI in their own languages.”
During the launch event, project coordinator Tatenda Tavingeyi demonstrated the application’s features, including user registration, voice recording workflows, progress tracking, and multilingual support. The app currently supports English, Khmer, and Dagbani, with plans to expand to additional languages in the future.
The project is the result of collaboration between community leaders, language experts, volunteers, and technology practitioners from Ghana and Cambodia. Contributors from both countries played vital roles in language validation, translation, community outreach, and workshop facilitation to support the development of high-quality voice datasets.
Community representatives and language experts Sophea, Sophat, and Fuseini shared their experiences contributing to the project and highlighted the importance of creating digital resources that accurately represent their languages and cultures.
The launch also showcased the broader vision of An AI of Our Own, an initiative that promotes inclusive, ethical, and culturally diverse approaches to artificial intelligence. Speaking during the event, Phloeun, Executive Director of Living Arts International, emphasized the significance of South-South collaboration in shaping more equitable AI ecosystems.
“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration between communities in the Global South,” Phloeun said. “By creating pathways for indigenous language speakers to participate in AI development, we are helping ensure that future technologies reflect a wider diversity of voices, cultures, and knowledge systems.”
The V3O project builds on the Mozilla Common Voice platform’s mission of creating open and accessible voice datasets. By simplifying the contribution process through a mobile-first approach, the project aims to increase participation from historically underrepresented language communities and strengthen their presence in emerging AI technologies.
Next Steps
The project team will continue improving the platform and expanding community participation. Upcoming activities include:
- Releasing and testing the iOS version of the V3O application.
- Sharing project documentation and open-source resources with the broader community.
- Supporting additional language communities interested in joining Mozilla Common Voice.
- Engaging media organizations and partners to increase awareness of the initiative.
- Continuing collaboration with community leaders in Ghana, Cambodia, and beyond to grow language representation in AI.
About An AI of Our Own
An AI of Our Own (AAOO) is an initiative dedicated to advancing inclusive, ethical, and culturally diverse artificial intelligence. Through community-led innovation, digital heritage preservation, and language technology development, AAOO works to ensure that diverse ways of knowing and communicating are represented in the future of AI.
For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or to learn more about the project, please contact the An AI of Our Own team.