Google Invests $37 Million to Accelerate AI Innovation and Inclusion Across Africa
In a landmark announcement, Google has unveiled a $37 million investment plan to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) development across Africa. The initiative focuses on responsible AI innovation, digital inclusion, and addressing critical challenges like food security, education, and language accessibility.
This investment spans AI research, infrastructure, talent development, and real-world applications, reinforcing Google’s commitment to long-term technological growth across the continent.
$25M AI Collaborative for Food Security
A centrepiece of the announcement is the launch of the AI Collaborative for Food Security, a $25 million initiative funded by Google.org.
This program will unite AI researchers and non-profit partners to develop tools for:
- Early hunger detection
- Improving crop resilience
- Offering advisory support for smallholder farmers
The ultimate goal is to create adaptive, climate-resilient food systems to withstand Africa’s growing environmental and economic pressures.
$3M to Support AI for African Languages
To promote digital inclusion and preserve Africa’s linguistic diversity, Google has awarded $3 million to the Masakhane Research Foundation, a collective working on AI for over 40 African languages.
This funding will drive:
- Creation of high-quality datasets
- Machine translation systems
- Voice tools to support access in native languages
Millions of Africans will be able to engage with the internet more effectively, regardless of language barriers.
Supporting 100+ Early-Stage AI Startups in Africa
Recognising Africa’s rapidly growing tech startup ecosystem, Google is launching a catalytic funding initiative targeting over 100 early-stage AI startups in key sectors, including:
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Education
This initiative combines venture capital, philanthropic funding, and technical support, including AI mentorship, to help scale local innovations with global potential.
Africa’s First AI Community Centre Opens in Ghana
Another key development is the opening of Africa’s first AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana.
This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for:
- AI learning and literacy
- Community-driven research and collaboration
- Exploring the intersection of AI, art, culture, and social impact
The centre is designed to empower students, developers, and creatives to engage with AI in ways deeply connected to African priorities and culture.
Google Career Scholarships and AI Education Support
To expand access to AI and digital skills, Google is rolling out:
- 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships in Ghana for fields like AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity
- An additional $7 million from Google.org to support AI education in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana
This includes funding for:
- Localised AI curricula
- Digital safety education
- Partnerships with academic institutions and nonprofits
$2M in Academic AI Research Grants
Google is also committing $2 million in academic research grants to two institutions:
- African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) at the University of Pretoria
- Focus: Applied AI research and training
- Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute, South Africa
- Focus: Foundational AI research for postgraduate students
Google Reinforces Long-Term Commitment to African Innovation
Speaking on the importance of this investment, James Manyika, Google’s SVP for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society, said:
“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.”
Yossi Matias, Google’s VP of Engineering and Research, added:
“By building with local communities and institutions, we’re supporting solutions that are rooted in Africa’s realities and built for global impact.”
Previous AI Projects by Google in Africa
This announcement builds on Google’s prior AI efforts across Africa, including:
- AI-powered maternal health dashboards in Nigeria and Ghana
- Wildfire alert systems in East Africa
- Regional language models developed by teams in Accra and Nairobi
