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Google unveiled new AI initiatives and offerings catered to the MENA region during its AI Connect Mena event held yesterday at the Etihad Museum in Dubai, attended by EnterpriseAM UAE.
Good news for Arabic-speaking AI enthusiasts: Google is rolling out new features for Gemini in Arabic over the next few days. Arabic speaking users subscribed to Gemini Advanced will be able to converse with Gemini Live in 16 Arabic dialects on Android devices, and utilize specialized AI assistants, dubbed Gems, for tasks including text editing and coding. Google’s image generation assistant Imagen3, and its “age-appropriate” Gemini for Teens, will also be gradually released to Arabic-speaking users.
Google also plans to contribute USD 15 mn by the end of 2027 to ensure equitable access to AI, under its new AI Opportunity Initiative for MENA, the company said in a statement (pdf). The initiative aims to boost AI skills for 500k individuals within two years, by supporting AI skills training, research and infrastructure.
AI education is getting a boost: New educational programs for AI and digital safety under the initiative include:
- A new AI skills curriculum in Arabic under Maharat min Google and Coursera;
- A grant to nonprofit Village Capital to boost AI skills of underserved workers in rural areas across UAE, KSA, and Egypt, among others;
- Experience AI by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in partnership with Amideast, training teachers on AI safety education for preteen students.
Google will also expand its partnership with nonprofit Apolitical — which recently received a USD 5 mn grant from Google.org to train 1 mn civil servants worldwide in AI — to train 50k civil servants in the UAE, program manager at Google.org Emea, Gianna Francescutti, said to EnterpriseAM UAE.
On the R&D front: The initiative establishes a new AI Research Fund for researchers on AI applications in the region, and a grant to Abu-Dhabi based startup accelerator startAD, to help develop AI-powered healthcare solutions to vulnerable populations in UAE and KSA.
Google is doubling down on Mena’s AI sector: The announcements come on the heels of the US tech giant’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to create a global AI hub near the Kingdom’s western city of Dammam, aimed at upskilling the local workforce through AI programs. Using Google Cloud’s technology, the hub is set to focus on improving AI applications and data services, particularly Arabic language models, potentially adding USD 71 bn to Saudi’s GDP over eight years. Google declined to comment on the investment ticket of the project.
