Kenya among African nations to benefit from Google’s Sh904 million AI funding
The funds will go towards supporting academic institutions and nonprofit organisations working to develop localised AI curricula, online safety training programmes, and urgently needed cybersecurity education.
Kenya is set to benefit from a fresh injection of Sh904 million from Google aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) education, research and innovation across Africa, in a move targeting long-term capacity-building across the continent.
The funding is part of a broader $37 million (Sh4.8 billion initiative announced by Google to support AI development in Africa, with Kenya named alongside Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana as primary beneficiaries of the $7 million (Sh904 million) share.
More To Read
- OpenAI set to launch GPT-5 in August, promises major leap in AI performance
- AI chatbots can boost public health in Africa - why language inclusion matters
- Chrome iOS upgrade now lets users switch between work and personal profiles with ease
- ChatGPT now handles over 2.5 billion prompts a day, OpenAI confirms
- AI revolution in Kenya: IT guru James Rege urges youth to tap digital jobs, global opportunities
- ChatGPT can now 'think and act' on your behalf: Here’s what you need to know
The funds will go towards supporting academic institutions and nonprofit organisations working to develop localised AI curricula, online safety training programmes, and urgently needed cybersecurity education.
Kenya’s AI ecosystem, anchored by Nairobi’s status as a regional tech hub, is expected to receive a major boost. The investment will open up opportunities for students and researchers in the country to gain critical skills in data science, AI development and digital safety.
In addition to education-focused support, Google is funding other AI projects across the continent. This includes a $25 million (Sh3.2 billion) grant to support AI-driven food security solutions, Sh388 million ($3 million) in funding for the Masakhane Research Foundation, a group advancing AI in over 40 African languages and the opening of Africa’s first AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The Ghana-based facility will serve as a first-of-its-kind space for AI learning, collaboration and innovation. It will host training sessions, workshops and community events with a focus on responsible AI development.
According to Google, programming at the centre will revolve around four key pillars: AI literacy, community technology, social impact, and arts and culture, offering a platform for a diverse group of developers, creators, and students to engage with AI in ways aligned with Africa’s priorities.
“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,” Google’s Senior Vice President for Research, Labs and Technology & Society, James Manyika, said.
Yossi Matias, Google’s Vice President of Engineering and Research, added, “This new wave of support reflects our belief in the talent, creativity, and ingenuity across the continent. By building with local communities and institutions, we’re supporting solutions that are rooted in Africa’s realities and built for global impact.”
Top Stories Today
