According to Google, Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a digital turning point, with over half its population gaining internet access for the first time and AI projected to contribute $30 billion to the region's economy.
The company reports that Matt Brittin, President of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, is visiting Nigeria and Kenya this week to announce these initiatives. The expansion of voice technology services, developed by Google Speech with the Research team in Accra, will enable approximately 300 million more Africans to interact with the web using their native languages.
According to the company's announcement, the voice technology update introduces 12 new languages to Google's Voice Search and Gboard talk-to-type features, including Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Kikuyu, Nigerian Pidgin, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, Twi, and Yoruba. Google Translate's dictation feature adds 13 languages, with South Ndebele, Swati, and Tswana joining the lineup.
The $5.8 million Google.org commitment, the company states, focuses on developing AI and cybersecurity skills across the region. A significant portion—$1.5 million—will go to the Data Scientists Network Foundation to create a programme training unemployed Nigerians in digital and tech skills, with an emphasis on data and AI. The initiative includes a partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Young Scientists Kenya to implement AI literacy education for youth in Kenya and Nigeria.
Google reports this investment builds upon its existing digital education efforts in Africa. Through its Grow with Google programme, the company trained over 6.5 million Africans in digital skills during 2023 alone, separate from its $20 million Google.org support for digital skills development organisations.