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Tag: Google

  • Google’s Hustle Academy re-launches with AI focus to empower African SMBs

    Google’s Hustle Academy re-launches with AI focus to empower African SMBs

    Google has announced the opening of applications for the 2024 cohort of its Hustle Academy, a program dedicated to accelerating the growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

    This year, the program introduces a significant upgrade: business-focused AI training integrated directly into the curriculum.

    SMBs are the backbone of Africa’s economy, yet many face challenges accessing funding and developing the essential skills needed to grow their businesses. 

    According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 40% of formal SMBs in developing countries have an unmet funding need of $5.2 trillion annually.

    The Hustle Academy aims to address this gap by providing comprehensive business education, mentorship, and networking opportunities. 

    Read Also: Google’s Hustle Academy awards N75m to 15 Nigerian SMBs

    Since its launch in 2022, over 10,000 businesses have benefited from the program. 

    Participants who received grants nearly doubled their success rate in accessing new funding sources beyond friends and family, increasing from 11% to 20%. 

    The programme has also spurred job creation, with an average of 4 new jobs for every 10 businesses that graduated.

    Kristy Grant, Head of B2B Marketing, SSA commented, “Artificial intelligence (AI) holds immense potential for African small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), enabling them to drive innovation, increase efficiency, and unlock new levels of economic growth. 

    “The Hustle Academy has supported over 10,000 businesses who have gone ahead to raise funding and create jobs since inception. By incorporating AI into our curriculum, we aim to further amplify this impact, equipping SMBs to harness AI technologies for improved business performance and economic progress,”  Grant added.

    The new AI modules focus on data-driven decisions, optimising operations, and building AI-powered marketing strategies. Participants will explore practical applications through modules like “Boost Your Productivity with AI” and “Marketing Strategy and AI,” learning how to save time and supercharge digital outreach.

    Applications for the 2024 Hustle Academy cohort are open to SMBs in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, and the program will run through the end of the year. For more information and to apply, visit g.co/hustleacademy.

  • Google partners African Union to launch #DiscoverMyAfrica

    Google partners African Union to launch #DiscoverMyAfrica

    The Office of the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy and Google on Monday announced the launch of the #DiscoverMyAfrica Shorts Challenge, a month-long initiative to celebrate the rich diversity, heritage, and vibrant spirit of the African continent.

    Throughout the month of May, YouTube creators across Africa are invited to share short videos capturing their unique perspectives, using the hashtag #DiscoverMyAfrica.

    Chido Mpemba, African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy, said: “#DiscoverMyAfrica empowers African youth to share their stories and rich cultural heritage globally.

    “Partnering with Google fosters creative expression and dialogue on content responsibility, digital preservation, and AI’s impact on Africa’s creative industries. This aligns with our vision for a digitally-enabled Africa harnessing cultural wealth for economic growth and social progress,” she said.

    The YouTube Shorts Challenge encourages creators to showcase various facets of African life, from music and art to food, fashion, and local landmarks. To further celebrate Africa’s vibrant music scene, YouTube is turning up the energy with YouTube Music Nights in Nigeria and South Africa, showcasing the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats and Amapiano.  Two dedicated playlists, “Africa’s Next Wave” and “Africa Superstars,” will highlight both emerging talent and iconic voices that have made the continent a global music powerhouse.

    Read Also: Google opens applications for Startups AI Accelerator Africa

    Nollywood superstar and style icon Osas Ighodaro will immerse viewers in the luxurious side of Lagos with her new show “Spa with Osas.” Enioluwa and The Geng will unravel the drama and secrets of high school elites in their highly anticipated series “All of Us.” And comedy superstar Broda Shaggi is guaranteed to bring the laughs with his hilarious new project, “Shaggi’s Palava.” These exciting new shows will premiere exclusively on YouTube.

    Aspiring filmmakers and content creators can also take advantage of specialized workshops designed to hone their skills and expand their reach. A dedicated Nollywood workshop in Nigeria, and broader #DiscoverMyAfrica workshops for content creators will offer valuable insights and resources to creators at all levels.

    Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube, said: “We are committed to supporting the diverse voices and talents that make up Africa’s creative landscape.

    “These initiatives provide valuable resources and platforms for African filmmakers, musicians, and content creators to share their stories and connect with global audiences,” he added.

    To learn more about #DiscoverMyAfrica and how to get involved, visit www.blog.google/africa or follow #DiscoverMyAfrica on social media.

  • Google opens applications for Startups AI Accelerator Africa

    Google opens applications for Startups AI Accelerator Africa

    Google has announced the opening of applications for the 8th cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program.

    According to the tech giant, the cohort will have a strong focus on startups leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to address critical challenges and unlock new opportunities across the continent.

    Head of Startups Ecosystem, Folarin Aiyegusi, Africa at Google said: “We’re excited to support the next generation of African AI pioneers through the Google for Startups Accelerator, providing them with the resources and mentorship they need to build successful, impactful businesses.

    “Africa’s tech ecosystem is a hotbed of innovation, and AI has the potential to be a transformative force across various sectors,” he said.

    Read Also: Google Cloud appoints Al-Sulaiti as security head for Africa, others

    The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa is a three-month, equity-free virtual program that provides African startups with mentorship, technical resources, and access to a global network of experts and investors. 

    Since its inception in 2018, the program has supported 106 startups from 17 African countries, and have collectively raised over $263 million and created more than 2,800 direct jobs.

    The Class 8 program will run from June to September 2024 and will include; equity-free support of Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, mentorship and personalised guidance from Google AI experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, technical workshops and In-depth training on AI/ML development, product strategy, and scaling, Global network and Connections to potential investors, partners, and customers, Community and a supportive network of fellow founders facing similar challenges and opportunities.

    Applications are open from April 29 to May 20, 2024, and can be submitted online at g.co/AcceleratorAfrica.  

    Eligible startups must be based in Africa or building Africa-centric solutions and should be utilising AI/ML in a transformative way.

  • Google trains Lagos female journalists on Al

    Google trains Lagos female journalists on Al

    No fewer than twenty-five female journalists under the umbrella body of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Lagos, have been trained by Google Nigeria on its latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage.

    The workshop tagged: “Beyond Buzzwords: Discover AI with Google”, which had participants drawn from various media houses in print, radio, television, and new media was to keep them abreast on how journalists could navigate the tools to make their work better, faster, and more efficient while avoiding the tech pitfalls.

    The training provided valuable perceptions of Google’s AI-first approach and hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools.

    Head, Gemini Communications, Google, Claudine Beaumont, who anchored the training session virtually from Johannesburg, took the participants through various practical sessions.

    She offered insights into Google’s recent advancements, reinforcing the organisation’s longstanding commitment to AI research spanning over a decade.

    Beaumont also afforded participants a closer look at how AI underpins everyday tools such as Google Search and Google Maps, with specific initiatives like Project Greenlight showcased as one of the pioneering examples of AI’s potential in tackling global challenges like climate change

    Head of communications, Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, who handled the physical session of the various Google AI tools, said that AI was taking centre stage and changing the way individuals worked, lived, communicated, and did things generally in the tech industry and globally.

    According to him, media personnel are the conscience of the society as well as the nation, they teach and tell us what is going on in the news.

     “If there is any technology that people in the press and people who are journalists must know, it is introducing them to the new forms of using AI to do their work and to tell better stories; what AI tools are available; how to use them to communicate and use them in a more efficient way,” he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade also said the training was part of Google’s drive to keep African media professionals abreast of current technology.

    He added that about 200 journalists from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa have so far participated in the maiden AI training.

    “This is the first time this training is done across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and again it’s because Africa is very important to Google.

    ”The African team at Google was one of the first to say let’s just do it because we have a lot of journalists who continue to reach out to say what’s going on in the world of AI.

    “As more and more people learn about the transformative power of AI and as more tools begin to come out, the people who again serve as the conscience of our nation, and tell us the stories that others don’t want to tell to unveil all the happenings in our nation, need to also be aware of the tools that can help them even improve the work that they are doing.

    ”On the fears that AI will take away jobs when new technologies come up, people express fears which are justified but the advice is for them to improve their capacity,” Kola-Ogunlade added.

    NAWOJ Vice Chairperson, Lagos chapter, Bunmi Yekini, said as an association that prioritises development and upskilling of its members, the Google-led generative AI and Digital Skills training for NAWOJ members couldn’t have come at a better time.

    Read Also: Google puts Naira to Dollar exchange at ₦1,247 to $1

    She said: “The training exposes our members to both existing and new tools that are available on Google such as Google Lens, Gemini search, Google Photos with its magic eraser, and many more.

    “With what has been learnt today, I believe that our journalists have been empowered to tell stories in innovative ways, reach wider audiences, and navigate the rapidly evolving media landscape.

    “Adapting to emerging technologies is non-negotiable in this era that has become increasingly digitalised.”

    One of the participants, Deputy Director, New Media, FRCN, Julie Ekong, said the training was an opportunity to catch up with AI trends and have a deeper understanding of it.

    “I think it is going to help on the job by making the work faster,” she said.

  • Google Cloud appoints Al-Sulaiti as security head for Africa, others

    Google Cloud appoints Al-Sulaiti as security head for Africa, others

    Google Cloud has announced the appointment of Noor Al-Sulaiti as Head of Security Business Development and Government Relations for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region (META).

    Noor, an industry veteran known for her innovative leadership, brings a wealth of experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors to her new role.

    Noor’s appointment is yet another testament to the company’s commitment to the region and safeguarding governments’ digital assets. 

    In this position, Noor will be responsible for Google’s security expansion in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa underscoring the growing importance of cybersecurity for the company.

    Read Also: Six ways Google Gemini can power your music journey

    She will foster strategic partnerships with the public sector to leverage Google Cloud’s cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, including CyberSshield, a powerful cybersecurity solution tailored specifically for governments and inspired by the concept that organizations inside a nation and around the world need to “lock shields” and stand united in their defense against shared attackers.

    Noor’s distinguished career includes her role as CEO of Ooredoo Oman. There, she established herself as the youngest and first female CEO in the company’s history, spearheading a transformation into a digitally led, data-powered, and customer-centric organization.

    Prior to joining Ooredoo Oman, Noor was the CEO of Starlink, a retail chain and IT service provider in Qatar. She was also the general manager of Phono and FASTtelco in Kuwait. She has been recognized as one of the most powerful businesswomen by Forbes Middle East and as a notable business leader by other prominent publications.

    Elated Noor Al-Sulaiti said: “I am honored to join Google Cloud, a company that has inspired me throughout my career. Google Cloud is continuously helping governments around the world enhance their security capabilities and respond holistically at the national level to keep their citizens and critical assets safe, and I’m ready to lead the charge to bring these capabilities to the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.”

  • Nigerian business leaders partner with Google for strategic advantage

    Nigerian business leaders partner with Google for strategic advantage

    …Seek competitive edge in Privacy-First era

    Leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa at a roundtable to discuss the shift towards privacy-first marketing as third-party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from FairMoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighting a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

    Businesses recognize that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasingly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy-focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards building sustainable  customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintaining transparency and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraints into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

    “Customer trust is the new currency,” noted Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google. “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunity. This is about reimagining how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand-in-hand.”

    The discussions emphasised this point, highlighting the competitive advantage of adopting privacy-first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversions.  These tools demonstrate a commitment to both high performance and privacy standards. Success stories illustrated how other businesses have successfully navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

    Read Also: EU opens investigations into Apple, Meta and Google

    “We stand at a crucial juncture,” remarked Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitch. “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprises that strike a balance between innovative, data-driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy-first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieve precisely this”

    The roundtable underscores a pivotal shift towards privacy-first strategies in Nigeria’s digital marketing sphere, emphasising the critical role of collaboration and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerstone of business growth and competitive advantage.

    “We are committed to empowering Nigerian brands in building a privacy-forward future. By harnessing AI and privacy-centric technologies, we aim to empower our partners to thrive amidst these changes,” stated Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google.

  • How African businesses can harness Google AI to simplify search advertising

    How African businesses can harness Google AI to simplify search advertising

    Following its initial announcement in January, businesses across Africa can now use Google’s Gemini AI-powered chat-like tool for Search Ads.

    This intuitive tool is now fully operational and designed to help businesses in Africa and across the world boost their online visibility.

    In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where internet penetration is rapidly increasing, the ability to effectively reach customers through online advertising is becoming increasingly crucial for business growth.

    Google’s conversational experience takes the complexity out of ad creation, empowering businesses of any size to easily craft campaigns that resonate with local audiences.

    A statement by Google reads: “Creating effective ads can be time-consuming, especially for small businesses,” explains Shashi Thakur, VP & GM of Search Ads & Ads on Google Experiences.

    “Our new conversational experience helps businesses of all sizes tap into the power of Google AI to create successful Search campaigns with remarkable ease.”

    Here’s how the conversational experience works:

    Easy to Get Started: Simply provide a website address, and Google AI will automatically analyse the content.

    Tailored Suggestions: The AI generates relevant keywords, ad headlines, and descriptions, inspired by a business and its target region.

    Read Also: Google rebrands AI chatbot, Bard, to Gemini

    Visual Inspiration: Need ad images? Google AI pulls visuals from a website or creates new ones.

    You’re Still in Control: Advertisers review and approve all AI-generated elements, ensuring ads reflect their brand.

    The introduction of this conversational experience has led to tangible benefits for businesses utilising the platform, with businesses using the conversational experience in Google Ads are 42% more likely to publish Search campaigns with ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ Ad Strength. This strong ad quality has been shown to directly increase conversions.

    This development is part of Google’s broader initiative to empower small businesses in Africa and globally, by facilitating the creation of impactful Search ads. By automatically generating headlines and descriptions based on existing website content, Google’s AI enables ads to dynamically respond to relevant searches. This adaptive approach ensures that small businesses can effectively capture the attention of potential customers, enhancing their visibility in search results.

    The conversational AI experience for Google Search Ads is now available globally for English-speaking advertisers, with plans to extend support to additional languages in the near future.

  • Google rebrands AI chatbot, Bard, to Gemini

    Google rebrands AI chatbot, Bard, to Gemini

    Tech giant Google has announced that Bard, it’s AI chatbot, has been renamed Gemini, adopting the name of the text, voice, and image-capable AI model that began powering the Bard chatbot in December.

    In a statement on Thursday, google revealed that Gemini, which is receiving more prominent positioning among Google’s services, will have its dedicated app on Android phones. On Apple mobile devices, Gemini will be integrated into the primary Google app.

    “Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience our most capable models. To reflect the advanced tech at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini. It’s available in 40 languages on the web and is coming to a new Gemini app on Android and the Google app on iOS,” the statement stated.

    The version featuring Ultra will be known as Gemini Advanced, offering a new experience that is far more capable in reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration.

    “For example, it can be a personal tutor, tailored to your learning style. Or it can be a creative partner, helping you plan a content strategy or build a business plan. You can read more in this post,” Google added.

    Read Also: Google funds Impact Amplifier’s AOSP launch

    Anyone can begin using Gemini Advanced by subscribing to the new Google One AI Premium plan, which consolidates the best of Google’s AI features in one place. This premium plan expands on the popular Google One service, offering extended storage and exclusive product features.

    Bringing Gemini’s Capabilities to More Products

    Gemini models are also being introduced to products widely used by individuals and businesses, including Workspace and Google Cloud:

    “Already, more than one million people are using features like ‘Help me write’ to enhance their productivity and creativity through Duet AI. Duet AI will become Gemini for Workspace, and soon consumers with the Google One AI Premium plan can use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet.

    “For Cloud customers, Duet AI will also transition to Gemini in the coming weeks. Gemini will assist companies in boosting productivity, developers in coding faster, and organisations in protecting themselves from cyberattacks, among countless other benefits,” Google explained.

    Regarding future developments, Google noted, “Hundreds of thousands of developers and businesses have already been building with Gemini models. While today focuses on Gemini Advanced and its new capabilities, next week we will share more details on what’s coming for developers and Cloud customers.

    “These latest updates reflect our bold approach to innovation and the responsible advancement and deployment of this technology. We’re already well underway in training the next iteration of our Gemini models.”

  • Google funds Impact Amplifier’s AOSP launch

    Google funds Impact Amplifier’s AOSP launch

    Google.org has provided financial support to Impact Amplifier for the launch of its African Online Safety Platform (AOSP).

    The AOSP is an Africa-wide project and part of Impact Amplifier’s broader intention to address African Online Safety at a systemic level.

    The African internet safety ecosystem is hindered by several issues, key among them is the lack of a central repository of all the online safety research that has been conducted on a broad spectrum of issues in Africa; lack of a central repository for education material for the plethora of online safety challenges relevant for African users; the absence of legal and social media platform support systems that are less complex and time consuming; and underfunding of the needed interventions.

    The AOSP has been built to address all these challenges. The platform provides a rich repository of research, education content, funding opportunities and ways to seek help if an online crime has occurred.

    The site is intended to address the complexity of understanding what online safety issues are affecting different parts of Africa, how to keep everyone and particularly young people safe online, how to teach online safety formally in schools and at home, funding opportunities for safety innovators, and how to get help if a crime or other violation has occurred.

    The event also included a panel discussion with several of Impact Amplifier’s grantees which are part of its ecosystem solution.  These panellists reflected online safety innovators from South Africa and Kenya who discussed some of the complexities and solutions to staying safe online in Africa.

    The panellists from South Africa were Craig Rosewarne, Managing Director Wolfpack Information Risk and Camaren Peter, Director/Executive Lead, Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC). Those from Kenya were Dennis Ratemo, Programme Manager, Terre des Hommes and Martha Sunda, Executive Director, Childline Kenya. Their discussions underscored the importance of solutions that were suited to local contexts in Africa.

    Read Also: Use part of funds Mr Ibu raised for your campaign to help him – Reno tells Obi

    Google SA Country Director, Alistair Mokoena said: “We first partnered with Impact Amplifier in 2020, when we announced the initial fund.

    We have now launched version 2.0 to show that we remain committed to providing sustained and dedicated support to the online safety ecosystem in Africa, in order to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected from online harms and reap the benefits of the internet. We encourage the relevant parties to use this amazing new education and research resource and to apply to the fund.”

    Speaking at the event, Impact Amplifier Director, Tanner Methvin said: “With over 570 million people having access to the internet in Africa, reflecting just under 47 per cent of the continent’s population, online safety concerns deserve utmost attention.”

    The new platform, Methvin added, “offers innovative approaches to addressing the complex safety issues the internet presents. These range from unique ways of combating mis and disinformation, tracking of cyber criminals, supporting journalists targeted with hate speech and bullying, integrating online safety training into school curriculums, and much more,” he concluded.

  • Google announces new update on Bard to enhance creativity

    Google announces new update on Bard to enhance creativity

    Tech giant Google on Thursday, February 1, introduced a new update, an advanced Artificial intelligence (AI) model Gemini Pro, to enhance creativity, capabilities, and productivity among others.

    The launch includes expanded features for fact-checking Bard’s responses via the “G” icon and introduces text-to-image generation, leveraging Gemini’s multimodal capabilities to generate photorealistic visuals based on textual descriptions, offering users an innovative creative tool.

    The update also introduces Nigerians to enhanced AI functionalities in understanding, summarising, reasoning, coding, and planning, setting a new benchmark for AI technology in the region.

    According to Google, “Bard now integrates Gemini Pro, an advanced AI model that improves its understanding, reasoning, and summarization abilities. This means users can expect more informative and accurate responses, particularly when dealing with complex questions, creative text formats, or coding challenges.

    “Bard’s fact-checking feature now supports over 40 languages, including Nigerian languages. Users can click on the “G” icon to verify Bard’s responses against information found online, ensuring they have reliable and accurate facts at their fingertips.

    Read Also: PISE-P to partner Google, Amazon, Microsoft for South East development

    “Bard introduces a new image generation feature. Users can describe their ideas in English, and Bard will utilise the Imagen 2 model to create stunning, photorealistic visuals. This opens up new avenues for creative exploration and expression, allowing users to bring their visions to life.

    “Bard with Gemini Pro has been recognized for its excellence and preference among users and experts alike. The Large Model Systems Organization, an evaluator of language models and chatbots, recently highlighted Bard with Gemini Pro as a “stunning leap” forward, ranking it among the top-performing chatbots globally. This recognition is supported by blind evaluations with third-party raters, further establishing its superiority over other free and paid chatbot alternatives.

    “In addition to English, Gemini Pro in Bard is now available in over 40 languages across more than 230 countries and territories, making it accessible to a broader audience. The double-check feature, previously available in English, has also been expanded to more than 40 languages, allowing users worldwide to corroborate Bard’s responses with web content.”