Google bets bigger on Africa with $1 million AI programme for content creators after surpassing $1 billion investment target

Google has surpassed its five-year $1 billion investment target in Africa, as the Alphabet-owned company expands its cloud, AI and connectivity push while launching a $1 million programme with Idris Elba’s Akuna Group to support African creators.

• Google has exceeded its $1 billion investment goal in Africa, focusing on cloud, AI, and connectivity initiatives.
• At its first Africa Cloud Summit in Johannesburg, Google announced new projects including expanded internet capacity, an AI lab in Ghana, and startup growth efforts.
• Google is building a connectivity hub in South Africa to link Africa to Australia and India, aiming to improve internet resilience across the continent.
• A new $1 million program will be launched with Idris Elba’s Akuna Group to support 100,000 African creators with AI tools and digital skills.

The Alphabet-owned company announced the milestone on Wednesday at its first Africa Cloud Summit in Johannesburg, where it unveiled new projects aimed at improving internet capacity, digital skills, AI development and startup growth.

The latest commitments build on Google’s 2025 launch of its Johannesburg cloud region, a major step in its effort to serve African businesses, governments and developers closer to home.

Google said it will establish a connectivity hub in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the first of four planned hubs across Africa.

The facility will connect the continent to Australia through the Umoja subsea cable and to India through a new route, improving internet resilience and capacity.

The company also announced Africa’s first applied AI lab in Ghana, which will connect local startups with Google researchers and give them early access to its AI models.

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Idris Elba partnership targets African creators

In the creative sector, Google will partner with Idris Elba’s Akuna Group on a programme worth more than $1 million.

The initiative will train underrepresented African creators in AI-powered storytelling and provide access to Google’s Gemini AI assistant and other digital tools.

Google Senior Vice President for Research and Technology James Manyika said the programme could help creators reduce production costs and improve output.

“We think about all those creatives who don’t have access to these enormous studio budgets,” Manyika said. “AI is potentially a tool that can enable them to do work that they couldn’t otherwise do because they don’t have huge budgets.”

The programme is expected to support about 100,000 creators in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Sierra Leone.

Elba said Africa’s creative industry needs better access to tools, financing and infrastructure.

“The barrier is not a lack of vision — it’s a lack of access,” Elba said during a video call at the Johannesburg summit. “Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.”

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Africa’s creator economy draws bigger tech interest

The British actor has increasingly positioned himself as an investor in Africa’s creative economy.

He has previously discussed plans for a creative village in Ghana and a studio complex in Zanzibar, as part of efforts to support culturally accurate African content for global platforms.

His Akuna Wallet will also support cross-border payments for creators, linking the programme to the wider challenge of monetisation in Africa’s digital economy.

Google, which owns YouTube, is betting on Africa’s young population, rising internet use and growing creator economy.

The continent’s media and entertainment market is currently valued at about $93 billion and is projected to reach $118 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence.

Google backs skills and startups

Beyond the creative economy, Google said its Economic and Community Development programme and WeThinkCode will build a 3 million rand, or about $183,468, digital innovation centre in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The company also said its startup accelerator programme will back 15 South African firms from July 21.

The move forms part of Google’s plan to support 50 African ventures between 2024 and 2028.

“The AI opportunity for Africa is significant, and Google is committed to doing our part working with Africans to help Africa realise it,” Manyika told reporters.