Through the development of ጉድ.ai, I am contributing to the technological and cultural transformation of the African continent by addressing the underrepresentation of African languages in AI. By creating a large language model specifically tailored to Amharic, I aim to empower Ethiopia’s Amharic-speaking communities both locally and in the diaspora. This project fosters cultural preservation, promotes inclusivity in digital tools, and enhances access to information for over 32 million Amharic speakers.

It has far-reaching applications—supporting students with advanced language learning tools, enabling businesses to offer better customer service in local languages, and assisting governments in creating accessible platforms for public services.

While working remotely, my impact on the ground is amplified through partnerships with Ethiopian institutions, data collection collaborations, and capacity building for local developers. The outcomes of ጉድ.ai will directly benefit individuals, businesses, and educators by reducing linguistic and cultural barriers, thereby promoting economic growth, education, and digital equity.

This initiative exemplifies how leveraging technology for localized solutions can create meaningful change for communities across Africa.

Endalk 

Home country: Ethiopia 
University: State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh, Class of 2025  
Major: Robotics, Computer Science
Ashinaga Proposal Topic: Creator of Gud.ai, an Amharic language learning model to preserve history and culture. 

My diverse skill set spans programming, embedded systems, and artificial intelligence, reinforced by hands-on experience in robotics, autonomous systems, and software engineering.

From developing distributed backend systems to leading innovative projects like a vision-based autonomous car and "ShopBuddy," an autonomous shopping cart, I thrive on solving complex problems and building impactful solutions.

With a strong foundation in teamwork and a passion for creating cutting-edge technology, I am eager to contribute to advancing robotics and software innovation.

Connect with Endalk on LinkedIn

Professional Interests:

◦ Programming, Robotics, and Education

Experiences:

◦ SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY; Teaching Assistant (August, 2024 - Present)

● Guided students in implementing robotics algorithms for resource-constrained environments, improving efficiency by 20%.
● Assisted in lab experiments and lectures, facilitating hands-on learning through tools like Arduino, which contributed to a 30% improvement in student comprehension based on lab scores.

◦ SUNY Plattsburgh ITS Helpdesk, Plattsburgh, NY; Support Technician (August, 2023 - Present)

● Resolved diverse technical issues, including hardware and software malfunctions, using tools like Jira and Active Directory, ensuring uninterrupted IT system operation and enhanced user experience.
● Provided emergency support for classroom technology, including AV equipment and network systems, minimizing disruptions and optimizing critical academic sessions.

◦ Monaghan Medical Corporation Plattsburgh, NY; IT Support Intern (February - May 2024)

● Collaborated with the IT Support Analyst to manage IT functions, including network configurations (Cisco), systems (Windows), and security (Firewalls), ensuring seamless operations across US operations and achieving 99% uptime compliance.
● Delivered frontline customer service for hardware (Dell desktops, HP printers), software (Microsoft Office 365), and smartphones (iPhone, Android), achieving a 95% first-contact resolution rate, enhancing workflow and productivity.

◦ YAM Software - Leading Change Africa, Madison, WI; Software Engineer Intern (March - August, 2022)

● Led the redesign of UI/UX using Figma and Adobe XD, addressing usability challenges, resulting in a 40% increase in user satisfaction ratings.
● Implemented testing procedures for new software applications using Selenium and JUnit, reducing bugs by 30% and ensuring high-quality deliverables.

Skills:

◦ Programming Languages: C, C++, C#, Java, Javascript, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Prolog, Python, SQLite, Swift, Typescript
◦ Frameworks: Dialog, Distributed Algorithms, Flask, Matlab, Node.js, Numpy, PyTorch, React Native, Rest APIs, TensorFlow
◦ Technologies/Software: Arduino, AWS Cloud Services, CircuitPython, Distributed Systems, Git, Google Cloud Platform, Google, Colab, Linux, MATLAB, NLTK, Onshape/CAD/AutoCad, Raspberry Pi, ROS2, SLAM, Torch