Google announced its new commitment to accelerate AI innovation across Africa by investing up to $37 million and launching an AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The investment is set to include new and previously announced funding towards research, talent development, digital skills and infrastructure. This is all designed to empower Africans to shape and lead the future of AI.
One of the main highlights of the Google cumulative fund is the AI Collaborative for Food Security, an initiative worth up to $25 million.
The program is meant to bring together researchers and non-profit organizations to build AI tools that develop solutions towards hunger while providing small scale farmers across Africa with agricultural guidance.
Google’s long-term goal with this is to secure food systems across the continent and make them more resilient and adaptive to climate and economic fluctuations.
As part of the package, Google will also include a $3 million fund to the Masakhane Research Foundation, an open research collective advancing natural language processing tools in over 40 African languages.
One other big move will also be a initiative to fund over 100 early-stage AI startups built to bring solutions in healthcare, agriculture and education among other key sectors.
Google states that these startups will be able to acquire venture capital, mentorship, technical expertise and tools to help them grow operations as they seek solutions.
The American tech giant has also pledged up to $7 million to support AI education in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana, going towards local curricula and cybersecurity training.
“Africa is home to some of the most important and inspiring work in AI today,” said James Manyika, Google’s Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society.
“We are committed to supporting the next wave of innovation through long-term investment, local partnerships, and platforms that help researchers and entrepreneurs build solutions that matter.”
