Google highlighted that its vision for Africa’s AI future requires collaboration, committing to partnerships with governments, non-profits, educational institutions, and the private sector.
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In Nigeria, Google announced its support for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to advance AI talent development. This includes contributing to the government’s 3MTT program, investing in educational initiatives to introduce AI to teenagers, and supporting an equity-free accelerator fund to empower Nigerian AI startups.
In September 2024, Google, in collaboration with the Nigerian government, launched a ₦100 million initiative to support 10 Nigerian startups leveraging AI in their products.
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Additionally, Google aims to equip policymakers with the knowledge and skills necessary for developing responsible AI policies and navigating AI’s impact.
Google predicts that AI could contribute $30 billion to sub-Saharan Africa’s economy by 2030. However, unlocking this potential will require equipping people with the skills and resources to build and use AI responsibly and effectively.
Google already has centres in countries including Ghana and Kenya, serving as hubs for AI research and developing solutions tailored to African challenges. One such innovation is Open Buildings, an AI project that maps buildings across the continent.
At its Product Development Centre in Kenya, ongoing projects include advancements in voice search and typing for African languages and an HTML5 gaming platform.
After launching its first Africa cloud region in South Africa in January 2024, Google has partnered with Kairos Power to use nuclear energy for its AI data centres, where the first reactor is expected to launch this decade, with additional reactors planned by 2035.
At Google I/O 2024, the company mentioned up to ten AI innovations, unveiling the future of AI-powered search. More of Google’s AI projects in Africa also include AI-driven flood forecasting and Nowcast for weather prediction.