Kenya has secured a mammoth US$1 billion investment to grow its digital economy.

The deal between Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Microsoft and global AI company G42, will include a state-of-the-art green data centre to host Microsoft Azure in a new East Africa Cloud Region, reports Space in Africa.

The investment also includes development and research into a local-language AI model; an Innovation Lab to facilitate broad AI digital skills training; improvements to international and local connectivity; and support for secure cloud services across East Africa.

G42 is already training an open-source large-language AI model in Swahili and English.

In addition, Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab in Nairobi will use AI to improve agricultural practices and to prepare for the impact of climate change.

By applying AI to high-resolution satellite data, the lab hopes to enhance food security by suggesting site-specific fertiliser recommendations, and to prepare organisations such as the Kenyan Red Cross and the National Disaster Management Unit for climate-related disasters.

In addition, the lab will also combine satellite imagery and AI to monitor wildlife populations and track livestock expansion near protected conservancy areas in East Africa.

4 June 2024
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