It is not everyday you meet a cool person tackling global challenges. In this episode of MoneyRise, we chat with Aremu Anuoluwapo, a linguist who’s breaking new ground by integrating local languages into AI tools like Siri and Alexa. Aremu also shares insights into his investment journey with Rise and the incredible possibilities it’s opened up for him.

Hi, Aremu. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
My name is Aremu Anuoluwapo, and I’m a linguist. I studied Linguistics and African Studies, specialising in Yoruba at the University of Lagos. I currently work in the language and technology space, focusing on integrating African languages into modern technology.

Have you always been interested in languages?
Yes, I’ve always loved languages. Growing up, I was fascinated by the eloquence of newscasters and later wanted to become an ambassador representing Nigeria in several countries, believing it required language skills. My childhood dreams were always connected to languages.

Could you tell us more about the language and technology space?
The field is multidisciplinary, involving people with backgrounds in computer science, AI, linguistics, and more. However, on the collaborative level, it is about ensuring that new technologies are accessible to people all over the world irrespective of the language they speak. For instance, while Siri is available in Norwegian and Danish– with a combined speakers of about 12 million, it is not in Yoruba, despite having over 40 million speakers. My work involves creating linguistic datasets and building models to bridge this gap.

Should we expect Siri in Yoruba or other Nigerian languages soon?
It is possible within the next five years. My team and I recently built a model that speaks Yoruba impeccably, starting the conversation on adopting local languages in tech. Many big tech companies are also aware of these challenges, so it’s just a matter of time. 

How has your work impacted people on a larger scale?
My work ensures that people aren’t forced to learn new languages to use technology. We also focus on ethical considerations, making sure the tech we develop serves native speakers effectively.

You created the first African Indigenous crossword game, Yooba Lingo. How did that come about?
I developed Yooba Lingo in my second year at university. It’s a Scrabble-like game in Yoruba, and the motivation came from wanting to help my cousins, whose first language is now English, learn Yoruba in a fun way. I developed my own board and letter distribution system, which actually required special skills. Thankfully, I was able to leverage the knowledge I acquired from my linguistics classes to achieve that. It also helped that I started playing scrabble in secondary school, so I was familiar with the terrain of how scrabble works. I just needed to adopt the idea and domesticate it into my native language.

Do you see yourself creating more games in the future?
Yes, I plan to expand into several African languages. However, building games takes time; Yooba took over a year to develop. There were mistakes, and I had to rework the letter redistribution using some of my phonology knowledge. In essence, I had to learn the rules that bind a language to be operational. But I’m excited about future projects.

Let’s talk about money and investing; how did you come about Risevest?
I discovered Risevest through Babajide Duroshola, who constantly tweeted about it. One day in December 2020, he posted that he made a certain huge amount in interest and that got me curious, especially because I had some USD sitting idly in my bank account. So I decided to find out more about the company and its offerings to be sure I could trust it. I also downloaded the app, but didn’t start using it until some time in 2021. What solidified my trust was when I started seeing more people talk about the platform. Then I finally moved a large chunk of my money from GTbank to my Rise account. I’ve been using Risevest ever since then.

And how has the journey been?
It’s been an exciting journey. One of my favourite things about the product is getting my interests. It’s a nice feeling seeing your money work for you, unlike what I had going on before when my money was just idle in the bank. I also like that there’s always something new to learn, particularly with the monthly Investment Club Meetings, where experts and guest speakers are invited to speak on important topics. It gives me the opportunity to learn from other people’s journeys and how they manage their money, which has pushed me to start reading financial books and heightened my financial curiosity. The best part of it all is the access to different asset classes; there’s something for everyone on Rise, whether you’re a conservative or aggressive investor. I also like the feed and newsletter that keep you updated on market trends and how best to navigate them.

Has Rise helped you achieve any specific financial goals? Tell us about it.
Yes. When I started using Rise, I didn’t think I’d need the money for any specific thing. I was just investing. However, as a frequent traveller who has consistently put money in Rise, I use my account statement as PoF (proof of funds) to apply for travel visas and other embassy related applications. I’m also going for my Masters soon, and my investment on Rise has helped me settle some  expenses.

We love to hear it. On a scale of 1-10 how likely are you to recommend Rise to people?
I’d say 9 out of 10. I have recommended roughly 10 people since I started using Rise and will continue to do so.