Google has invested $37 million in artificial intelligence across Africa.
At the center of this investment is a $25 million contribution to the AI Collaborative Food Security Initiative. This program will strengthen Africa’s agricultural expertise and support the transformation of farming technologies across the continent.
In this way, Africa will be able to develop its own AI tools instead of relying on external solutions. With this support, African farmers will gain access to hunger forecasting systems, enhanced crop resilience technologies, and sophisticated tools to counter climate-related threats. They will be able to predict and prevent food crises while optimizing crop yields.
AFRICA’S OWN TALENT WILL BE EMPOWERED
In addition, Google has invested $7 million in AI education in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
At the end of these programs, 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships will be awarded, creating a local pool of AI talent across the continent. This will not only establish an employment network but also contribute to the overall development of artificial intelligence.
The company has also invested $3 million in the Masakhane African Languages AI Hub. This project is expected to support more than 40 African languages.
By representing diverse local languages in AI systems, barriers that have historically excluded communities from digital opportunities in education, healthcare, and finance will be removed.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS
Google has further invested $1 million in the University of Pretoria’s AfriDSAI and the Wits MIND Institute to support graduate students and researchers, thereby also investing in Africa’s scientific community.
Through such initiatives, Google aims not to address poverty in Africa through external interventions, but to provide local talent with opportunities to solve their own challenges. This represents an important step toward a sustainable development plan for the continent.