The funding will support a wide range of programs including local research, language innovation, food security solutions, and startup development in sectors like health and education.

The announcement was made during the launch of a new AI Community Center in Accra, Ghana.

The facility will serve as a regional hub for AI training, experimentation, and collaboration.

Speaking at the launch, James Manyika, Senior Vice President at Google, emphasized the significant AI work already taking place in Africa.

One of the key programs introduced is the AI Collaborative for Food Security, which aims to link researchers and nonprofit organizations to create tools that improve early hunger detection, enhance crop resilience, and support small-scale farmers with better decision-making tools.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s ability to deal with climate-related and economic challenges.

AI technology is already in use among some African farmers. In Nigeria, for example, local agri-tech companies are using AI to track soil health and monitor environmental conditions in farming operations.