The upcoming decade is poised to be a transformative digital era for Sub-Saharan Africa, where emerging technologies will greatly enhance the continent's growth. For the first time, more than half the population will have internet access, with artificial intelligence potentially adding $30 billion to the economy. However, realizing this opportunity depends on inclusive access for all. This week, I’m in Nigeria and Kenya, witnessing digital advancements firsthand and engaging with NGOs, entrepreneurs, and developers who are creating technology that benefits both local communities and the global landscape. To initiate my visit, I’m thrilled to announce two key initiatives aimed at fostering a comprehensive digital transformation. First, we introduced 15 new African languages in Voice Search, talk-to-type on Gboard, and dictation in Google Translate. This voice technology allows users to communicate and interact with the web naturally through speech. The update, developed by the Google Speech Research team in Accra, will enable approximately 300 million more Africans to utilize their voice online. Recognizing the importance of multilingual speech recognition, these advancements train AI models in a manner similar to how children learn languages.

Google currently supports typing in around 200 African languages and automatic translation for over 60. New additions in Voice Search and Gboard include Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Kikuyu, Nigerian Pidgin, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, Twi, and Yoruba. Translate now supports voice input for 21 languages, with the addition of the same languages as mentioned above. Additionally, Google. org has committed $5. 8 million to promote AI education and skilling across the region. The funding aims to equip individuals with essential AI and cybersecurity skills while assisting nonprofit leaders and the public sector. Notably, the Data Scientists Network Foundation received a $1. 5 million grant to train unemployed Nigerians in digital skills, partnered with the Raspberry Pi Foundation for educational initiatives in Kenya. This funding complements Google. org’s previous $20 million investment in digital skills development and the 6. 5 million individuals trained by Grow with Google in 2023 alone. Google remains dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy are accessible to all and is eager to see the impact of these initiatives in empowering more individuals to acquire digital skills and engage online confidently.