On September 18, Google declared its commitment to invest in AI in Africa with subsea cable hubs, free AI tools for students, and research grants to enhance internet infrastructure and skills training, driving the continent’s digital growth.
Google’s announcement comes at a time when Africa is building its future through development and innovation. With its population projected to hit over 830 million by the year 2050, the continent is seen as a pool of global opportunity.
For Google, investing in South Africa and technology through growing connectivity and advancing digital skills will create long-term value for both business and society.
Google building AI capability in Africa
Since 2021, Google has dedicated more than $1 billion to Africa, including projects that have connected 100 million individuals to the internet for the first time ever. These connectivity projects also bridge the continent and technology, as well as technology in South Africa and globally.
Google’s latest announcement highlights four subsea cable nodes in Africa’s north, south, east, and west. These will relate to existing projects like Equiano cable and Umoja, the first fiber optic route between Australia and Africa.
“The infrastructure will create new digital corridors, deepen international resilience and spur significant economic growth”, said Debbie Weinstein, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Moreover, research estimates that the Equiano cable would add an additional $11.1 billion to Nigeria’s GDP and $5.8 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2025, emphasizing the impact of Africa and technology on pushing economies forward.
On the other hand, Google Cloud’s region in Johannesburg plays a central role. It enables secure access to advanced AI models that help South African entrepreneurs, businesses, and developers to develop AI-powered solutions.
This is seen as the next step in developing South Africa AI infrastructure.
African Union Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030
In bold, Google’s technological intentions align perfectly with African Union Digital Transformation Strategy, which has established a 2030 vision to develop a single digital market for everyone.
Much like the Gulf’s 2030 vision and initiatives, it requires massive digitalization, job creation, and regulations. Google’s vision is the same as that of its own for AI in Africa, wherein infrastructure and education move together.
One example is education. Google is offering a one-year access to its Gemini AI Pro plan to students in eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Deep Research and Guided Learning are two tools developed to support learning, especially for African youth in tech preparing to lead the future of innovation on the continent.
“With AI, collectively we have the chance to democratise access from the start, ensuring that the digital divide doesn’t become an AI divide,” said James Manyika, Google Senior Vice President.
This also links into policies for AI policy and strategy Africa, where governments and private actors must ensure inclusion.
So far, Google has benefited 7 million Africans and will reach another 3 million by 2030. It is also funding universities, and educational systems, empowering entrepreneurs of South Africa, and increasing the inclusive access to tools like Google Translate, which now has over 30 African languages.
These initiative mark AI for financial inclusion in Africa, agriculture, health, and education, serving directly the communities.
As AI in Africa evolves with time, combining infrastructure, education, and policy support will be critical. Projects like Africa Connect, investment in skills, and goals aligned with Africa Tech 2025, Google is already positioning itself as an investor in the region, additionally as a long-term partner in Africa’s digital future.
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