Giant tech company Google announced new support for artificial intelligence development in Africa.
In a blog post on the company’s website, the Regional Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Charles Murito, announced that the company will increase efforts to implement the new technology in youth education. Along with providing the governments with a playbook, Google plans to provide free versions of Gemini and NotebookLM.
The company will also support AI training for 50,000 public officials across Ethiopia and work alongside the AU Commission to incorporate AI-driven climate predictions into response strategies. Google will further provide support for the construction in a Digital Public Infrastructure to create an open network.
“It’s no longer just about digital access, but about digital agency: the ability for Africa to lead, create, and solve its own challenges using the power of AI,” said Murito. “Turning this vision into reality is a journey that requires intentional action, and one we’ve been proud to be part of for over a decade.”
As policymakers and tech companies look to integrate AI into African systems, however, environmental experts warn that the technology’s environmental impacts must also be considered. According to UNESCO officials, the implementation of AI exhausts resources, land, water and a substantial amount of energy.
For each query input in AI tools such as ChatGPT, 0.34 Wh of electricity is used. On average, 310 GWh is used per year, amounting to the entire annual electricity consumption of more than 3 million people in Ethiopia. In terms of water consumption, AI is expected to consume 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water globally by 2027. The new technology requires water to train and run language-learning models, as well as to cool them.
UNESCO also warns that the neighborhoods that are most at risk of being negatively impacted by the usage of AI are the same neighborhoods that are most likely to miss out on it. In Africa, only 5% of AI talent has access to digital tools. Rural neighborhoods that lack access are prone to energy inequality and water scarcity. If they are not available, other renewable energy options and fossil fuels may be used.
Despite the expected environmental harm that AI might have on African neighborhoods, the presence of the new technology is expected to grow with officials projected to expedite the implementation process. Per Carnegie Endorsement, AI can grow the entire continent’s economy by $2.9 to $4.8 billion in the next four years.
African officials have continued to support AI, most recently adding it to the agenda at the African Union Summit.
