Fatshimetrie
In 2021, Google announced a $1 billion investment in Africa, with the aim of improving connectivity, driving innovation and supporting local entrepreneurs. Three years later, it says that investment is paying off. According to a recent report commissioned by the tech giant, its services—like Search, Maps and YouTube—are expected to generate $16 billion in economic activity in the region by 2023.
Alex Okosi, a Nigerian native and Google’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, sat down with Fatshimetrie to discuss his vision for the company, from transformative infrastructure projects like the Equiano undersea internet cable connecting Africa to Europe and the recently announced Umoja route from Kenya to Australia, to the expansion of Google Translate to include more African languages, and the role of AI.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Fatshimetrie: How important is the African market to Google? Why did you invest $1 billion in it?
Alex Okosi: The African market has incredible potential. Think about it, in the next four or five years, over 40% of the world’s youth population will be on this continent. That means that the workforce of today or tomorrow will come from Africa. We see Africa not only as an opportunity from a business perspective, but as an opportunity for the world to really benefit from the enormous potential and talent that Africa has to offer.
Now, obviously, there are a lot of challenges that we have to overcome. The digital divide on this continent is still there. That’s why we really wanted to make sure that we invest in Africa in the right way – across every link in the value chain that matters to help Africa realize its full potential.
Fatshimetrie: Why is it important to invest in infrastructure and how important are these projects for businesses and people in Africa?
Alex Okosi: One of the biggest challenges we have on this continent is that there is still a huge digital divide. The cost of data is still high, connectivity is still a challenge. Investing in infrastructure like Equiano and Umoja will help reduce these costs and allow businesses to take advantage of this digital highway to be more efficient.
Now (the drop in data costs) will not be immediate. We still need to work with the last mile operators to make sure that they are leveraging this new bandwidth and reducing the costs so that the consumer feels it. We don’t want to leave anyone behind, and the only way to ensure that is to make sure that the cost of data is more affordable.
Fatshimetrie: How could expanding Google Translate to include more African languages facilitate business communication and increase social inclusion on the continent?
Alex Okosi: The power of AI has allowed us to bring more languages online at a much faster pace. I am excited about the 13 new languages we have introduced to Google Translate, including my mother tongue, Igbo. This really opens up the possibility for over 300 million people who speak these languages to access the internet in a language of their own.
From an inclusion perspective, this means that we have a much larger community of people who will now be able to participate in using digital tools to grow their businesses and careers. If I am someone living in a rural area and I speak a particular language, I am now able to participate in this digital revolution that we talk about every day, as part of the growth of the continent.
Fatshimetrie: In 2018, Google launched its first AI research center in Africa in Ghana. What opportunities are these AI research centers likely to offer the continent?
Alex Okosi: Our AI research centers are going to benefit the continent in a number of ways, and we’re already seeing some of those benefits. For example, one of the main things that really affects farmers on this continent is pest outbreaks. We’ve developed an AI solution that allows us to predict possible devastating outbreaks on crops seven days in advance. Or when it comes to floods or climate change… 23 African countries are now part of our flood forecasting hub that allows them to access information on when these floods might occur, and people can prepare accordingly.
Fatshimetrie: Tell me about the dangers of AI, how could its integration affect employment patterns across the country?
Alex Okosi: Of course, there are the challenges that AI can present: there is misinformation, there are cybersecurity challenges if people use it in the wrong way. As Google, we talk about being bold, we talk about being responsible. It’s about working with communities, with academia, with governments to make sure that we have frameworks to develop AI that best serves the citizens and the communities that we serve. The important thing is that we deploy AI responsibly and that we mitigate the risks associated with AI.
Fatshimetrie: In 10 years, where do you see Africa?
Alex Okosi: In 10 years, I think we’re going to have an Africa full of opportunity and prosperity. A continent where innovation, connectivity and social inclusion will be strong pillars. With continued investment in infrastructure, technology and research, I am confident that Africa will shine and play a leading role on the world stage. The potential is immense, and the future looks bright for this dynamic and resourceful continent.