Tech giant Google has announced a $5.8 million commitment to accelerate AI training initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the company, this investment will support organizations working to equip the continent’s citizens with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-powered world.

Google said it aims to foster a deeper understanding of AI in society, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit from this technological revolution.

Programs to support

The tech giant further revealed that the $5.8 million investment would be deployed to support programs for workers to learn critical AI skills. He said such programs must provide people from various sectors with the knowledge to effectively use AI tools and technologies.

Other programs to support include any program that:

• Educating adolescents on AI safety and ethics: enabling young people to become responsible and informed users of AI, understanding its potential impact on society.

• Equipping nonprofit leaders with foundational AI skills: Helping nonprofits leverage AI to amplify their impact and more effectively address social challenges.

• Supporting the public sector with AI skills: enabling governments to develop and implement AI-based solutions for public services and policymaking.

Investing in research and development

Highlighting the potential of the AI ​​ecosystem in Africa, Google said it is committed to supporting this innovation through continued investments in research and development, infrastructure and partnerships.

“Our Google Research Africa centers in Accra, Ghana, and Nairobi, Kenya, are centers of in-depth AI research, focused on developing innovative solutions for African challenges and contributing to global AI advancements .

“The team works on targeted projects like Open Buildings, which uses AI to identify and map buildings across Africa, providing crucial data for urban planning, disaster relief and understanding the socio-economic development.

We are also excited about the work being done at our recently opened product development center in Nairobi, Kenya.

This center is dedicated to creating products and features specifically for the African market, including advancements in voice search and typing for African languages, as well as innovative products such as the HTML5 gaming platform which has already reached 1 million daily active users and is designed to run seamlessly on low-bandwidth devices,” the company said in a blog post Monday.

Collaborating to build an AI-powered future

Google said it also recognizes that it cannot achieve its vision for the future of AI in Africa alone. It is therefore committed to collaborating with governments, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and the private sector to create an inclusive and thriving AI ecosystem.

• In Nigeria, the company said it supports the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to advance AI talent development by equipping Nigerians with essential AI skills.

• This includes contributing to the government’s 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) program, investing in educational programs that introduce AI to teenagers, and supporting a non-equity accelerator fund to empower Nigerian startups from AI.

• Google said it will also equip policymakers with the knowledge and skills to navigate AI and develop responsible AI policies.

What you need to know

In 2021, Google announced a $1 billion commitment to accelerate Africa’s digital economy, focusing on improving internet access, supporting local entrepreneurs and promoting innovation.

As part of this investment, in 2022, Google’s Equiano fiber optic cable landed in Nigeria, connecting West Africa to Europe.

With approximately 20 times the network capacity of the last cable built to serve the region, Equiano is expected to drive an increase in internet penetration of 7% in Nigeria by 2025, making internet access faster, more reliable and more affordable.

This investment also supports several Google-funded skills programs tailored to Nigeria’s youth and entrepreneurs.

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