Google commits $37 million to AI development in Africa

In a significant boost for the continent’s burgeoning technology sector, Google today announced a $37 million commitment to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) development across Africa. The complete package, unveiled at the launch of a new “AI Community Centre” in Accra, Ghana, underscores Google’s belief in Africa’s potential to not only utilize but also shape the future of AI.

The multi-faceted investment aims to bolster local AI research, foster talent, and strengthen digital infrastructure, addressing critical challenges and unlocking new opportunities across various sectors. A cornerstone of this initiative is the AI Collaborative for Food Security, which will receive $25 million in funding from Google.org. This collaborative effort will connect researchers and non-profits to develop AI-powered tools for early hunger detection, enhancing crop resilience, and providing tailored guidance to smallholder farmers, thereby helping African food systems withstand climate and economic shocks.

Recognizing the continent’s rich linguistic diversity, Google has also pledged $3 million to the Masakhane Research Foundation. This open research collective is dedicated to advancing AI tools in over 40 African languages, supporting the creation of high-quality datasets, machine translation models, and speech tools that will make digital content more accessible to millions.

Furthermore, a catalytic funding initiative will be launched to support over 100 early-stage AI-driven startups in agriculture, healthcare, and education. These ventures will benefit from a combination of philanthropic capital, venture investment, and Google’s technical expertise, alongside mentorship and access to vital tools.

Education and research capacity building are also key pillars of Google’s commitment. An additional $7 million will be dedicated to expanding AI education initiatives across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana, supporting academic institutions and non-profits in developing localized AI curricula, online safety training, and cybersecurity programs. Two new $1 million research grants from Google.org will be awarded to the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) and the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute, both in South Africa, to support foundational AI research and nurture MSc and PhD students.

James Manyika, a Senior Vice President at Google, emphasized during the launch, “Africa is home to some of the most important and inspiring work in AI today. 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.” This substantial investment signals Google’s intent to empower African innovators to develop AI solutions that are rooted in the continent’s realities and capable of making a global impact.