Google has announced a $37 million investment to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) development across Africa, alongside the launch of a new AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana, the first of its kind on the continent.
“Africa is home to some of the most important and inspiring work in AI today,” said James Manyika, Google’s Senior Vice President, as the tech giant revealed the initiative on Thursday.
Driving food security and language access
This $37 million package isn’t just a headline; it’s fuelling real opportunities. Google confirmed that $25 million of this sum anchors the AI Collaborative for Food Security, which leverages tech to strengthen food systems amid climate and economic pressure.
Researchers, nonprofits, and smallholder farmers are set to gain powerful AI tools for hunger forecasting and crop resilience.
That’s not all, Google has set aside $3 million for the Masakhane Research Foundation, accelerating the creation of open-source AI tools for over 40 African languages.
According to Google, “The funding will support the development of high-quality datasets, machine translation models, and speech tools that make digital content more accessible to millions of Africans in their native languages”.
Two additional $1 million research grants will boost South Africa’s expertise: one to the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and another to the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute.
For startups, a catalytic funding initiative and mentorship program will support over 100 AI-focused health, education, and agriculture ventures.
Accra’s new AI community centre becomes Africa’s AI hub
With this significant announcement came the unveiling of Accra’s AI Community Centre, the first of its kind in Africa. This centre aims to be the beating heart of local AI learning, experimentation, and collaboration.
The programming covers AI literacy, community technology, social impact, and arts and culture, inviting developers, students, and creators to participate.
Google is rolling out 100,000 fully-funded Career Certificate scholarships in Ghana to expand digital skills.
These scholarships are packed with AI essentials, prompting courses, and training in high-growth tech fields like data analytics and cybersecurity.
Meanwhile, an additional $7 million in funding will help develop AI curricula and online safety training in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana.
As Ghana’s Minister Sam George put it, the goal is “to look at how we’re going to fix our national challenges such as flooding, waste management and traffic management” using AI-driven solutions.
Google says this new investment and center show a deep commitment to pushing forward AI in Africa.