Across Africa, AI is increasingly being harnessed to address local challenges in sectors such as climate resilience, agriculture, healthcare, education, and language accessibility. With its youthful population and strong culture of innovation, Africa is contributing unique perspectives to global AI development. As this transformative technology evolves, empowering African researchers, developers, and organizations becomes essential.
To support this growing momentum, Google has announced $37 million in new and previously unannounced contributions toward AI research, talent development, and infrastructure across Africa. A key part of this commitment is the launch of the AI Community Center in Accra, Ghana. This hub will offer technical workshops, research exchanges, and community events to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and local innovation.
Google.org is directing $25 million toward the AI Collaborative: Food Security initiative, which supports African researchers and nonprofits developing AI tools for improved hunger forecasting and agricultural resilience. Additionally, $3 million is being invested in the Masakhane African Languages AI Hub to expand open-source AI tools across over 40 African languages, ensuring better representation and inclusion.
To further strengthen AI research, Google is awarding $1 million each to the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Pretoria and the Wits MIND Institute. These funds will help support graduate and postdoctoral research, growing Africa’s capacity to lead in global AI advancements.
Google is also scaling its AI education efforts with a $7 million investment in training and safety programs in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. These programs aim to equip individuals with critical AI and cybersecurity skills. In Ghana, 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships will be offered to university students, covering subjects like AI Essentials, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity.
To support African entrepreneurship, Google is launching a catalytic fund to help over 100 AI-driven startups scale their innovations. The initiative combines philanthropic funding, venture capital, and technical assistance to bring impactful, locally relevant AI solutions to market.
Overall, these investments underscore Google’s commitment to Africa’s AI future, ensuring that communities have the tools, resources, and support to develop solutions that address their needs and contribute to global technological progress.
