The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and its AI Skills Coalition ambassador, singer and tech founder Wii.i.am, have partnered with Google to provide artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics training to students across the continent.
According to the UN technology agency, the plan was unveiled during the Digital@UNGA Anchor Event at the UN General Assembly, with the tech giant pledging $1 million in AI expertise and funding to establish the programme through its philanthropic arm, Google.org.
This comes just a week after Google announced major investments in the continent's digital future, including $9 million in fresh funding for African universities and research institutions over the next year, on top of $17 million already spent on local capacity building.
While the demand for AI skills is steadily expanding, 2.6 billion people globally remain offline, including 1.3 billion children.
According to the ITU, 60% of African youth remain unconnected, severely limiting their ability to learn and prosper in the digital economy.
To this end, the new ITU-led initiative, which builds on pre-existing ITU AI for Good projects such as the AI Skills Coalition, Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, and the Giga initiative, combines hands-on AI and robotics training for young people in underserved communities, including in countries where the joint ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative is assisting governments in connecting schools to the Internet.
Once schools are connected to the internet via the Giga project, children aged 10 to 18 will have access to AI training through the Skills Coalition and the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge.
The programme will launch in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa to establish the foundation for bringing AI and robotics skills training into schools across the region. It will deliver hands-on robotics kits, localised AI curricula and teacher training to schools participating in the programme, said ITU.
It went on to say that the project solves the dual problem of connecting offline populations while also developing digital skills in communities that have historically been difficult to reach. Special attention will be placed on reaching out to girls and other under-represented groups.
“This initiative will open new doors of opportunity for AI literacy among young people, enabling them to lead the digital transformation that is reshaping how we live, work and communicate. ITU is working to equip youth across Africa with the training and tools they need to thrive in an AI-powered world,” said ITU secretary-general, Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
Wii.i.am emphasised the importance of including young people from economically disadvantaged regions as the global economy continues to be driven by technology.
He commented: “In our global tech-driven economy, it’s urgent that we help bring young people in critically underserved areas up to speed so they can participate. With STEM, robotics and AI skills, bright young minds across Africa will be equipped with the skills required to succeed and help solve the world’s most pressing problems.”
James Manyika, senior vice president of research, labs, technology and society at Google, added: “To take full advantage of the opportunities presented by AI, we must democratise access, making it available to everyone, everywhere.
“We see this AI and robotics training programme as an important part of how we’re delivering on our mission in Africa, where Google is working to expand connectivity, increase access to AI tools, and build skills across the continent."
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