Google has announced $37 million in cumulative funding to support AI efforts across Africa, including previously unreported grants and new investments. The package spans research, talent training, and infrastructure, focusing on food systems, language tools, and responsible AI use.
The largest piece is a $25 million commitment to the AI Collaborative for Food Security, a multi-partner initiative aiming to use AI for hunger forecasting, climate adaptation, and tailored support for smallholder farmers.
A $3 million grant goes to the Masakhane Research Foundation to support machine learning tools and datasets in over 40 African languages. Two $1 million grants will fund research fellowships at the University of Pretoria and Wits University to strengthen foundational AI research.
Google will also roll out catalytic funding for over 100 early-stage startups applying AI in health, agriculture and education. These ventures will get technical support and mentorship alongside capital.
Google is opening an AI Community Center in Accra, Ghana, to build on-the-ground infrastructure. The space will host workshops, community events, and AI learning programmes based on four tracks: literacy, tech, social impact, and culture.
Google is also offering 100,000 scholarships for career certificate programmes in AI and IT skills for students in Ghana. A further $7 million will go to partners in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana working on AI education and online safety.
The new moves build on past Google AI efforts in Africa, including maternal health dashboards, wildfire alerts, and language models built in Nairobi and Accra. The company aims to help local researchers and developers shape AI use on their terms.
