Google has announced the AI Opportunity Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), marking its largest AI project in the region so far.
This initiative aims to provide essential AI skills, research funding, and better access to Google’s AI tools, with a goal to empower over 500,000 people in MENA within the next two years.
Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has pledged a total of USD 15 million through 2027 to support organizations across MENA, ensuring that AI opportunities are available to everyone. This initiative comes at a crucial time, as research from the Economist Impact predicts that AI could bring a USD 320 billion economic boost to MENA by 2030.
Key Features of the AI Opportunity Initiative:
- AI Skill-Building Programs: Google is launching a full AI curriculum in Arabic as part of its “Maharat min Google” digital skills program. This will include targeted educational efforts for underserved groups, focusing on women, youth, migrants, and rural residents in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- AI Research & Solutions: Google has set up an AI Research Fund to support projects related to healthcare, climate change, and education. Additionally, a grant to startAD will work on creating AI solutions to improve healthcare access in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Gemini AI Features in Arabic: The Gemini AI has been launched in Arabic and now supports over 16 dialects, offering new features for personalized help, teen-friendly experiences, and image generation with Arabic prompts.
- Infrastructure Investment: Google is expanding its cloud services in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, partnering with local organizations like the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
At the Google AI Connect Event at the Etihad Museum, Ruth Porat, President of Alphabet and Google, stressed the importance of AI for regional economic growth, saying, “AI is set to add USD 320 billion to MENA’s economy by 2030. Google is making sure that people and communities in the region gain the skills needed to take advantage of this new technology.”
The event featured notable figures, including Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, along with other leaders from the business and technology sectors.
Partner Insights:
- Village Capital: CEO Allie Burns spoke about the initiative’s focus on underserved communities, emphasizing AI training and mentorship for local organizations.
- Raspberry Pi Foundation: CEO Philip Colligan highlighted their new partnership with Amideast, which aims to help teachers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia educate students about AI.
- startAD: Assistant Director Rami Aljundi noted the shared goal of using AI to advance progress in healthcare, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
Through partnerships, educational programs, and infrastructure investments, Google’s AI Opportunity Initiative is positioned to transform the MENA region.
