Google has announced a $37 million initiative aimed at driving AI innovation across Africa, focusing on solutions that reflect the continent’s unique needs and strengths.
Revealed during the opening of an AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana, the plan includes a mix of research funding, startup support, and grassroots education. James Manyika, Google’s senior VP, highlighted the continent’s growing role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, calling Africa “a global force in meaningful AI work.”
The new centre in Accra is designed to be a creative space for collaboration, training, and experimentation, including programs to improve AI literacy across various communities.
One major initiative is the AI Collaborative for Food Security, a network connecting researchers and non-profits to develop tools that can detect early signs of hunger, support smallholder farmers, and build more resilient food systems—especially vital in the face of climate and economic disruptions.
From agri-tech startups in Nigeria using AI to monitor crop health, to precision tools on poultry farms, tech-powered agriculture is already changing lives, and Google wants to accelerate that momentum.
In addition, the company plans to launch a financing platform specifically for startups in agriculture, healthcare, and education. Another $7 million, through Google’s philanthropic arm, will boost AI education in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana.
Recognizing the importance of linguistic diversity, Google is also supporting Masakhane, a collective developing AI tools for over 40 African languages, with a $3 million grant.
Two $1 million research grants have also been awarded to institutions in South Africa: the African Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute.
Ghana’s Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Sam George, urged citizens to see AI as a tool for solving national issues like flooding, traffic congestion, and waste management.
This isn’t Google’s first AI effort on the continent. Past initiatives have targeted maternal health, wildfire prediction, and language model development in cities like Accra and Nairobi.
Africa’s future in AI looks bright—and with initiatives like this, it’s being shaped by local minds, for local impact.
