Google raises African AI bet as Big Tech looks to continent - Semafor
Google has announced a $37 million investment to bolster AI research and development in Africa, targeting key sectors like food security and language technology.
Google is intensifying its focus on the African continent with a new $37 million investment aimed at accelerating the development of artificial intelligence. According to a report from Semafor Africa (GN), the tech giant intends to use these funds to support researchers working on critical regional issues, such as food security, online safety, and digital communication tools for 40 different African languages.
The financial package, which consists primarily of grants, will largely benefit tech hubs in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Additionally, Google plans to provide 100,000 scholarships for technical certificates to students in Ghana. This move follows the success of the company’s AI research laboratory in Accra, which was established in 2019 and has already contributed to global projects like the Flood Hub forecasting platform and a massive dataset mapping building density across the Global South.
Yossi Matias, a Google vice president overseeing research, highlighted the significant potential for impact in the region. He noted that the company welcomes broader interest in the sector, stating that he would be "thrilled to see more investment from many others in Africa." This comes as other Silicon Valley players, including Microsoft and Meta, launch their own multi-million dollar initiatives to train workers and fund startups across the continent.
Despite persistent challenges regarding basic infrastructure like reliable electricity, the appetite for digital automation in Africa continues to grow. Google’s latest commitment is part of a larger $1 billion pledge toward African technology development. Recent cohorts of the company’s startup accelerator have already begun including participants from emerging tech scenes in Ethiopia and Rwanda, signaling a widening geographical reach for these investments.