Google./PHOTO;Pexel
Kenya is among the African countries set to benefit from a new initiative by Google and actor Idris Elba aimed at expanding access to artificial intelligence tools for digital creators across the continent.
The initiative is being rolled out through the non-profit Elba Hope Foundation in partnership with Google and will provide subsidised access to the company’s Gemini AI assistant and other digital products for around 100,000 creators in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
The programme is designed to support filmmakers, musicians, journalists, designers and other independent content creators who often face high production costs and limited access to advanced creative tools.
Backed by an estimated $1 million, the partnership seeks to address one of the biggest challenges facing Africa’s creative economy: access.
While the continent continues to produce globally recognised talent, many creators still struggle to secure the resources needed to scale their work and compete internationally.
Google Senior Vice President James Manyika said the programme is focused on creators who do not have access to large production budgets.
“We think about all those creatives who don’t have access to these enormous studio budgets,” Manyika said, noting that artificial intelligence can help bridge that gap.
The AI tools are expected to support creators in areas such as research, scriptwriting, editing and content planning, reducing both the cost and time required for production.
