DUA 2.0: First AI to Speak Cape Verdean & Guinean Creoles
In a groundbreaking move for Lusophone digital inclusion, a new creative Artificial Intelligence named DUA 2.0 has become the first of its kind to fluently speak and process Cape Verdean and Guinean creoles. Launched this month, the platform aims to reclaim technological space for over 300 million Portuguese speakers globally, particularly those often overlooked by Silicon Valley giants.
Breaking the Linguistic Barrier
Created by artist Carlos Guedes and developed by the company 2 Lados, DUA 2.0 represents a significant shift in how AI interacts with cultural heritage. Unlike mainstream models that often struggle with regional dialects, DUA processes local references, cultural nuances, and double meanings without relying on intermediate translations. This allows for authentic communication that resonates with the specific lived experiences of West African and Lusophone communities.
“We are covering an essential prism: the accessibility of AI to Lusophone creators,” Rui Santos, a member of the project team, told Lusa. By adopting the persona of a Black woman and originating from the Cruz Vermelha social housing neighborhood in Lisbon, the project intentionally centers voices that are typically “discarded from technological developments.”
An All-in-One Studio for Independent Artists
DUA 2.0 is more than just a chatbot; it is a comprehensive creative suite designed to decentralize cultural power. The platform features:
- A Music Studio: Allowing artists to compose and experiment using AI.
- A Design Studio: Offering a suite of 16 specialized visual tools.
- Digital Management: Acting as a virtual manager, booker, and press officer to support independent artists who lack the resources for a professional team.
To achieve its linguistic precision, the team scanned existing Creole content across the web and engaged in direct communication with native speakers. While currently specializing in the Santiago Island dialect of Cape Verdean Creole, plans are already underway to expand to the São Vicente dialect through a partnership with the Cape Verdean Ministry of Education.
An AI with a Conscious?
One of the platform’s most avant-garde features is its capacity for “metacognition.” DUA is programmed to question her interactions, reflecting on the ethics of her conversations. Every day, the AI publishes a public diary on its official website, offering autonomous reflections on what she has learned from her users.
“These are spontaneous opinions from a machine that, while having no real emotions, demonstrates autonomy by learning and evolving on its own,” the promoters explained.
Navigating the Ethics of AI
Addressing the growing concerns over copyright and intellectual property, Rui Santos emphasized that DUA 2.0 prioritizes legal protection for creators. Unlike some controversial platforms, 2 Lados does not use artists’ voices for machine learning without authorization.
“We try to protect artists’ rights, adding human value and creating a bridge with human processes,” Santos stated. As major global record labels begin to partner with AI platforms, DUA 2.0 positions itself as a tool that empowers the artist rather than replacing them, ensuring that the future of the “Lusophone revolution” remains in the hands of the creators.
Image: Pexels – Google DeepMind
