ToumAI

The company

ToumAI creates voice interfaces in local dialects to help low-literate, rural users access digital and financial services through simple spoken interactions.

The problem

In Morocco, millions of low-literate and rural citizens remain excluded from digital and financial services because most apps and platforms use French or Standard Arabic rather than local dialects. High illiteracy rates, combined with limited connectivity and infrastructure, further hinder adoption of these digital services. Moreover, most digital services require stable internet and advanced devices, which are impractical in low-connectivity, resource-constrained environments in rural Morocco, collectively limiting access for underserved rural populations. ToumAI aims to improve the accessibility of these digital services for underserved users.

GSMA project

In January 2026, ToumAI received a GSMA grant to enable low-literate and rural users to access digital and financial services through a voice interface that works in local dialects, namely Maghrebi Arabic and Berber languages. This will be achieved by compressing large language models to run efficiently on budget smartphones and function entirely offline in low-connectivity environments.

By allowing users to interact with apps through simple spoken commands, without the need for text input or internet connectivity, ToumAI’s solution removes barriers of language, literacy, and connectivity, making digital services usable and accessible in underserved rural Morocco.

Founders

Youcef Rahmani, COO & Co-Founder

Odin Demassieux, CEO & Co- Founder

Imade Benelallam, CTO & Co-Founder

A message from the founders

“We are honoured to be selected as recipients of GSMA’s Innovation Fund for Impactful AI. GSMA’s support will accelerate our mission to make digital and financial services accessible to everyone, not just those who can read, speak English, or have high-end phones. This funding will help us push our voice AI fully on-device, in regional languages and dialects, protecting cultural identity and making AI adapt to people, not the other way around. Millions across multilingual markets will simply speak to their apps to pay, send money, or access services, even with poor connectivity. This is a critical step toward real inclusion, where language is no longer a barrier to economic participation, especially for low-literacy communities and women.”