Allan Astro
@allanastro
AI-focused Swahili language evaluator transforming expert linguistic insight into high-quality training data.
KenyaWhat I'm looking for
I’m a native Swahili speaker and bilingual professional with deep expertise in Swahili grammar, syntax, morphology, semantics, phonetics, and pragmatics—combined with a technical background in software engineering and AI data evaluation. I specialize in challenging AI language model outputs, documenting failure modes, and delivering actionable linguistic feedback that improves reasoning quality.
In my freelance role as a Data Annotation Specialist, I probe Swahili and English conversation scenarios, run quality assurance on annotated datasets, and perform pairwise evaluations of AI-generated text. I maintain high accuracy while applying structured evaluation rubrics, surfacing systematic weaknesses in areas like noun class agreement, verb conjugation, tense usage, and pragmatic context.
I also support research and data quality through roles like Research Assistant and Administrative Coordinator, strengthening my ability to collect, validate, structure, and analyze data with rigor. I’m passionate about advancing Swahili in AI by turning mother-tongue fluency into high-quality training data that helps deliver the next generation of language models.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Data Annotation Specialist
Self-Employed
Jan 2024 - Present (2 years 5 months)
Evaluated and challenged AI language model outputs in Swahili and English by documenting failure modes and providing metacognitive linguistic feedback. Processed 200+ items daily while maintaining 98%+ accuracy and running pairwise comparisons for grammar, noun-class agreement, idioms, cultural fit, and logical soundness.
Research Assistant
Academic Institution / Research Project
Sep 2023 - Dec 2023 (3 months)
Collected, organized, and validated research datasets from multiple sources, identifying inconsistencies and errors. Conducted systematic content analysis and categorization, and prepared documented datasets for statistical analysis.
Administrative Coordinator
Various Organizations
Jun 2021 - Aug 2023 (2 years 2 months)
Managed high-volume data entry and maintained databases, spreadsheets, and digital filing systems with strong attention to accuracy. Performed quality control reviews, produced reports and summaries, and coordinated time-sensitive projects across teams.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Kirinyaga University
Bachelor of Science, Software Engineering
Activities and societies: Relevant coursework: Research Methods, Statistical Analysis, Digital Media, Content Analysis, Information Systems. Capstone: data analysis on social media engagement patterns.
Earned a BSc in Software Engineering at Kirinyaga University, graduating May 2022. Completed a capstone project analyzing social media engagement patterns.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
KenyaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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