Amid global competition, two Kenyan firms have emerged victorious, earning coveted positions in Google.org’s pioneering Generative AI Cohort. This prestigious program offers access to over $20 million (Sh2.6 billion) in funding, empowering participants to advance their projects over the course of six months.
“According to Dorothy Ooko, Google’s Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Africa, generative AI holds the promise of enhancing the productivity, creativity, and effectiveness of social impact teams as they strive to serve their communities. She expressed excitement about supporting selected organizations in leveraging this technology to address critical challenges across the continent.
Jacaranda Health, for instance, is leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP) in African languages to expand digital health services for marginalized mothers.” As a result, EIDU utilizes generative AI to offer personalized tutoring services in low- and middle-income nations through customized digital learning activities.
This pioneering program also encompasses organizations hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Despite the accelerated task performance enabled by AI technologies, a recent survey highlighted that nearly half of its users lack the necessary resources—tools, awareness, training, and funding—to effectively implement them.
Businesses are increasingly turning to AI as a means to streamline operations, enhance decision-making processes, and mitigate risks, all aimed at delivering a more tailored and efficient service experience to their clientele.
Nevertheless, there are apprehensions regarding the potential displacement of certain occupations, including data entry clerks, travel agents, cashiers, and customer service representatives.
