Google Cloud launches new AI development initiatives for Africa

Details: John Tanner; Category: Cloud & Virtualisation; 03 July 2026; 1253 views

Google Cloud launched several new initiatives to boost AI development in Africa on Wednesday, including new infrastructure, a new AI lab, digital skillsets development and startup funding.

On the infrastructure front, Google said it will a new “Digital Exchange Port” in South Africa’s Eastern Cape – the first of four connectivity hubs in different regions of Africa that Google committed to constructing last year as part of its Africa Connect infrastructure program.

Google said the Eastern Cape hub will anchor South Africa as a strategic international switching point, directly connecting Africa to Australia via Google’s planned Umoja subsea cable, as well as a new subsea route to India, to support African internet connectivity.

Google also announced that Google AI Futures Fund, Google Research, and VC partners are launching Africa’s first applied AI lab in Ghana. The lab – which will be based at its Accra AI Community Centre (AICC) – promises African startups early access to Google’s latest AI models to address uniquely African challenges across work, knowledge, creativity, entertainment and software development.

Google also said the AI lab will help support Africa's first generation of AI-native unicorn startups. Applications are open now and will close on August 31, 2026.

On a similar note, Google said it will open applications for the 2026 South African cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator later this month on July 21. The program will select 15 local startups for an AI-focused curriculum, hands-on mentorship, and equity-free funding. Google said this is part of its pledge to back 50 African ventures between 2024 and 2028.

Meanwhile, Google also said it’s partnering with The Akuna Group to deliver AI creative education and advanced digital tools to underrepresented creators in Africa, backed by over US$1 million in funding from Google.org.

Finally, Google's Economic and Community Development programme and WeThinkCode has committed to build a ZAR3 million (US$184, 890) digital innovation centre at the George Tabor Campus of South West Gauteng TVET College in Soweto to serve as a skills platform to building the talent pipeline.

The new initiatives – all of which were unveiled at its inaugural Cloud Summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday – were launched under Google’s "Building for Africa" mission.

James Manyika, Google’s senior VP for Research, Labs, Technology and Society, said the initiatives also build on the tech giant’s existing US$1 billion investment commitment for Africa between 2021 and 2026 to advance AI in Africa, as well as its US$37 million investment in cumulative contributions to research, talent development, and infrastructure announced last year when it launched the AICC in Accra.

"The AI opportunity for Africa is significant, and Google is committed to doing our part working with Africans to help Africa realize it,” he said in a statement. “We’re harnessing technical progress and building partnerships to amplify and scale Africa’s incredible vibrancy, hustle, and innovation for the world."