Google to invest $15 million in AI literacy, infrastructure across MENA

Google has announced to launch the AI Opportunity Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), its largest AI initiative in the region, aimed at providing essential AI skills, research funding and access to innovative AI products.

Through Google.org, the company will contribute $15 million in funding to organizations across the region from now through 2027, ensuring AI opportunities reach a broad audience, according to WAM.

Recent research indicates a need to accelerate AI and digital literacy to help more people become competitive in an AI-first economy and workforce. According to the Economist Impact, the potential economic impact of AI on MENA’s economic growth is an estimated $320bn by 2030.

The AI Opportunity Initiative for MENA will build on Google's long-standing commitment to the region, where it has trained three million people on core digital skills since 2018. This new initiative aims to empower half a million individuals within two years with critical AI skills.

I Opportunity Initiative will focus on the following areas:

AI Skills Building

Google is committed to creating inclusive education and training opportunities for everyone to learn, grow and contribute to a better economy. Google is announcing new educational programs and curriculums covering AI and safety skills.

New AI curriculum in Arabic

A new Arabic language AI-training curriculum under Google's digital skills program in Arabic ‘Maharat min Google’ and Coursera will equip people with AI skills like prompt engineering.

Supporting underserved communities

Google.org is granting Village Capital, a nonprofit that supports early-stage entrepreneurs, to empower Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in providing AI upskilling for underserved workers. The initiative aims to reach women, youth, migrants, and rural populations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Iraq.

Advancing responsible AI education in Arabic

The Experience AI program, developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind, will be offered in Arabic. Funding from Google.org will enable teacher training on AI literacy, equipping students aged 11-14 with essential AI safety skills. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the program will partner with Amideast.

AI Research and Solutions

Since 2005, Google has invested over USD 400 million in academic research globally.

Google's support for AI development in MENA: Key initiatives

AI Research Fund

A new fund by Google.org will support local university researchers in the region focusing on AI solutions for healthcare, climate change, education and beyond.

AI for Healthcare

Google.org will offer a grant to startAD, the startup accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at New York University Abu Dhabi, to identify and develop AI-powered applications that help provide healthcare access for vulnerable populations in the UAE & the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including senior citizens, disadvantaged youth, and people from low-income backgrounds.

AI-powered features in Arabic

In July 2023, Google introduced Gemini, its AI-powered assistant in Arabic, capable of understanding over 16 dialects. Now, Google is adding new features to enhance Arabic-language support, including:

• Gems on Gemini in Arabic: This feature lets users create custom AI assistants for tasks like career guidance, learning, brainstorming, editing, and coding. Available to Gemini Advanced users.
• Gemini for Teens: An age-appropriate experience designed for users under 18, with tools like double-check response, ensuring content accuracy.
• Imagen3 in Arabic: Enables image generation using prompts in Arabic.
• Gemini Live in Arabic: An interactive chat experience with Gemini on mobile, now available for Android.

Infrastructure investments

Google reaffirmed its commitment to cloud infrastructure in the region, enhancing Google Cloud data regions in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait to meet demand. Through a partnership with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Google will expand the Dammam Cloud region with an AI hub, advancing Arabic-language AI research and offering upskilling programs to create high-skilled jobs.

At the Google AI Connect Event, Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, highlighted that AI is projected to contribute $320 billion to MENA's economy by 2030. Porat emphasized Google's focus on equipping MENA communities with skills for AI-driven growth, including a new Arabic AI curriculum under Maharat min Google, in collaboration with regional nonprofit and university partners.

According to Public First research, Google’s services—Search, Play, YouTube, Cloud, and advertising—generated $12.8 billion in economic activity in the UAE and Saudi Arabia last year and are forecasted to contribute $14.2 billion in 2024.

The AI Connect event at the Etihad Museum saw attendance from UAE Minister of State for AI Omar Sultan Al Olama, alongside government leaders, business figures, developers, and entrepreneurs.