Google Cloud has unveiled a series of new artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure and skills development initiatives aimed at accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa opens inaugural Google Cloud Summit in Africa
The announcements were made at the inaugural Google Cloud Summit in Africa, held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, where about 3,000 business leaders, developers, public sector officials and technology partners gathered.
The summit, themed “Building for Africa with Google Cloud,” builds on Google’s launch of its Johannesburg Cloud Region in 2025.
Opening the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the event underscored Africa’s growing importance in the global digital economy.
“Today’s Google Cloud Summit affirms Africa’s position as a core growth region for the global cloud ecosystem.
“As we step boldly into the age of artificial intelligence, our aspiration is to anchor South Africa as a catalyst for the continent’s digital ascendancy,” Ramaphosa said.
Google announced five new initiatives under its “Building for Africa” programme to expand AI innovation, digital infrastructure and skills development across the continent.
The company disclosed plans to establish a new Digital Exchange Port in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the first of four connectivity hubs planned for Africa.
According to Google, the facility will connect Africa directly to Australia through the Umoja subsea cable and to India via a new submarine cable route, improving internet connectivity and cloud service resilience.
Google also announced the establishment of Africa’s first Applied AI Lab in Ghana through partnerships involving Google Research, the Google AI Futures Fund and venture capital firms.
The lab, located at the Accra AI Community Centre, will provide African startups with access to Google’s latest AI models, research expertise and mentorship to develop solutions addressing local challenges.
Applications for the programme will remain open until Aug. 31, 2026.
The technology company further announced a partnership with The Akuna Group, backed by more than one million dollars in Google.org funding, to provide AI-based creative education and digital tools for underrepresented African content creators.
In South Africa, Google said it would partner with WeThinkCode to establish a three million rand Digital Innovation Centre at the George Tabor Campus of South West Gauteng TVET College in Soweto to equip young people with digital and AI skills.
The company also announced that applications for the 2026 South African cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator would open on July 21.
The programme will select 15 startups to receive AI-focused training, mentorship and equity-free funding as part of Google’s commitment to support 50 African startups between 2024 and 2028.
Google’s Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, Technology and Society, Mr James Manyika, said Africa presents enormous opportunities for AI-driven innovation.
“The AI opportunity for Africa is significant, and Google is committed to working with Africans to help the continent realise its full potential through investments in infrastructure, innovation and education,” he said.
Also speaking, Google Cloud Vice President for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms Maureen Costello, said African businesses had moved beyond AI experimentation to deploying practical solutions.
She noted that Google’s Johannesburg Cloud Region is projected to contribute about 90.6 billion dollars (1.7 trillion rand) to South Africa’s economy and support more than 314,000 jobs by 2030.
According to her, the investments are expected to strengthen Africa’s digital economy while expanding access to cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital skills across the continent.
