A research released by Google has shown that Kenyans are keen to grow their Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills and qualifications.
The research reveals that the search trends on google for AI in the year 2024 in Kenya and around the world, indicates that Kenyans searching for the term AI, has increased to 150 percent more than the same period last year.
Searches in Kenya for ‘what is AI’ also increased by 60 percent, while searches for ‘how to use AI’ increased by 90 percent, making the country the fourth highest with search interest in AI in Africa, and ranking it in the 13th position in the world.
Agnes Gathaiya, Country Director for Google East Africa, said AI has the potential to create opportunities and to bring new waves of innovation, social and economic progress.
“It’s no surprise that the people of Kenya are already looking to make the most of this transformational technology, finding ways to learn more AI skills, to boost their career, creativity, and society,” said Gathaiya.
She noted that Kenyans are looking to use AI to build their careers and creativity with trending searches that include, AI generated images, AI logo maker, AI text chat generator, and ask AI questions, which she termed as breakout searches in 2024, and growing over 5,000 percent in interest, as compared to the same period last year.
In a press statement to newsrooms, the Country Director announced that the research trends, were measured from January 1st to July 15th , 2024 while the percentage increases are in comparison to January 1st to July 15th , 2023.
The research also indicates that searches for AI jobs have also tripled to over 230 percent, searches for AI course have doubled to +120 percent, AI and business increased by 60 percent, while searches for AI and startups increased by 70 percent, whereas top queries around AI and learning were, where to learn AI and machine learning in Kenya.
Other searched areas were learn-prompt engineering, and what is needed to learn AI, interest in cybersecurity and AI which doubled across Kenya with +110 percent, people also showed a clear interest in the future of AI for science, those for AI and healthcare doubled with +100 percent, while searches for AI and medicine and AI and healthcare increased by 50 percent, whereas for AI and hospitals increased by 90 percent.
Google with its commitment to AI as a force for positive societal change, offers free AI training programs to Africans through its Hustle Academy, an initiative, designed for entrepreneurs, with modules tailored to teach participants how to leverage AI, to improve their businesses.
Since its launch in 2022, Hustle Academy has empowered over 10,000 businesses.
Google also supports promising AI-focused startups in Africa through its Google for Startups Africa program, which assists startups, tackling African challenges.
The Company has selected 10 AI-driven ventures for its 2024 cohort.
By Bernadette Khaduli
