BBYDI Launches AI-Powered WhatsApp Chatbot to Combat Misinformation Across Africa

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has launched MyAIFactChecker, an artificial intelligence–powered WhatsApp chatbot designed to help citizens verify information and curb the spread of misinformation across Nigeria and the African continent.

The chatbot was unveiled on Friday at a press conference held at the organization’s office in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Speaking at the event, the Communications Director, Sanni Alausa Issa, described misinformation as a growing threat to democratic participation, social cohesion, and informed citizenship, particularly during election periods.

He explained that false information often spreads because people care about their families, communities, and country, but misinformation exploits those good intentions.

Sanni said the decision to deploy the fact-checking tool on WhatsApp followed extensive research and community feedback, which showed that many vulnerable populations lack reliable access to web-based platforms due to high data costs, poor connectivity, and limited digital literacy.

He noted that WhatsApp remains the fastest channel for the spread of information across Africa, both accurate and false, making it essential for verification tools to exist on the same platform.

With over 500 million daily users across Africa, WhatsApp provides a familiar and accessible environment for users to verify claims without requiring advanced technical skills or expensive data plans.

Sanni disclosed that MyAIFactChecker went through several testing phases before its public launch. Internal testing, which began in September 2025, covered multilingual queries in English, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, achieving an initial accuracy rate of 85 percent.

He added that community testing in Ilorin improved the chatbot’s accuracy to 90 percent, with response times averaging four to six seconds. Pilot deployments during the 2025 Anambra governorship election and elections in Cameroon also showed strong performance during periods of heightened misinformation.

Sanni explained that the tool includes a voice-to-text feature, allowing users to verify claims without typing, a function particularly beneficial to people with low literacy levels and persons with disabilities.

He further noted that the chatbot was developed with women, young people, and marginalized communities in focus, amid rising cases of gender-based disinformation targeting women in politics and civic spaces.

According to him, community engagements in Anambra State recorded a significant increase in participants’ confidence in identifying misinformation, rising from 14 percent before training to 72 percent afterward, with more than three-quarters indicating they would now verify information before sharing it.

Sanni said there are plans to scale MyAIFactChecker across Nigeria and other African countries as part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic resilience through civic technology.

The organization acknowledged the support of CIVICUS, the Digital Democracy Initiative, as well as community members, volunteers, and staff who contributed to the project’s success.

Sanni stressed that while misinformation is a global challenge, Africa has the capacity to lead in developing innovative solutions that promote truth and informed citizenship.

How to Use the Tool

Citizens can access the MyAIFactChecker chatbot by saving the WhatsApp number +1 (843) 438-1502 and submitting text or voice messages for verification.

The organization also called on journalists, civil society organizations, schools, community leaders, and development partners to collaborate in expanding access to the tool and promoting responsible information sharing.