Google has unveiled its AI Opportunity Initiative for the Middle East & North Africa, marking its most extensive AI initiative in the region. This program aims to provide essential AI skills, research funding, and access to beneficial AI products.

Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, plans to allocate $15 million from this year through 2027 to organizations across the region, ensuring that AI-driven opportunities are accessible to all. Recent studies highlight the urgency to enhance AI and digital literacy to make individuals more competitive in an AI-centric economy. According to Economist Impact, AI could potentially boost Mena's economic growth by an estimated $320 billion by 2030.

Building on Google's enduring commitment to the region, where it has trained three million people in core digital skills since 2018, this new initiative targets empowering half a million individuals within two years with critical AI skills. The initiative encompasses AI skills development, research, products, and infrastructure.

Key components include:

• AI Skills Building: Google is dedicated to fostering inclusive education and training opportunities, introducing new AI and safety skills programs.

• New AI Curriculum in Arabic: An Arabic language AI training curriculum under Google's 'Maharat min Google' and Coursera will equip individuals with AI skills such as prompt engineering.

• Supporting Underserved Communities: Google.org is funding Village Capital, a nonprofit focusing on early-stage social and financial capital for entrepreneurs addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. Village Capital will receive a grant to upskill underserved workers, particularly targeting women, youth, migrants, and those in rural areas across several countries in the region.

• Advancing Responsible AI Education in Arabic: The Experience AI program, created by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind, will be offered in Arabic. Raspberry Pi Foundation will use Google.org funding to train teachers on AI literacy, equipping students aged 11-14 with AI safety skills.

• AI Research & Solutions: Google has invested over USD 400 million in global academic research since 2005. In Mena, Google will support local universities and startups in developing AI solutions for healthcare, climate change, education, and more.

• AI for Healthcare: Google.org will grant startAD, the startup accelerator at NYU Abu Dhabi, to develop AI applications improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

• AI-powered features in Arabic: Google's AI assistant, Gemini, launched in Arabic in July 2023, now supports over 16 Arabic dialects. New features include personalized AI experts for various tasks and an age-appropriate experience for teens.

Google reaffirmed its investment in cloud infrastructure in the region, partnering with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to expand the Dammam Google Cloud region with an AI hub, advancing AI research in Arabic-language models and providing AI and digital upskilling programs.

Speaking at the Google AI Connect Event, Ruth Porat emphasized Google's commitment to equipping people and organizations in the Middle East and North Africa with the skills needed to leverage AI's potential. According to Public First, Google's products contributed $12.8 billion to the UAE and Saudi Arabia's economy last year and are projected to contribute $14.2 billion in 2024.

The AI Connect event, held at the Etihad Museum, was attended by government officials, business leaders, developers, and entrepreneurs, highlighting the initiative's significance in driving AI-driven economic growth and opportunity in the region.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com