Google is one of the tech giants that are investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and using its power in various parts of Africa to find solutions to pressing problems on the continent affecting millions of people locally and globally.
In 2018 Google launched a research centre in Ghana to lead multiple sustainable initiatives of interest in Africa.
Mapping Buildings
Mapping buildings in remote locations can be a struggle and difficult even with the technology tools such as satellite imagery. It can be difficult to plan infrastructure when these buildings go unmapped.
Google team in Accra research centre combines AI with satellite imagery to pinpoint location of buildings. This helps governments and nonprofit organisations understand the needs of residents and offer assistance.
Forecasting Floods
According to the United Nations, half of the world’s least-developed countries lack adequate early warning system for disasters, including floods.
Google’s Flood Forecasting helps residents stay alert and safe, it also gives governments time to prepare.
“We’re using AI models to predict when and where riverine floods will occur in 80 countries worldwide, including 23 in Africa,” said Google.
The Flood Hub platform displays the forecasts up to seven days in advance, with detailed inundation maps – showing different water levels predicted in different areas – so people know what to expect where they live, according to Google.
Locust Prediction
Through the collaboration of InstaDeep, an AI -product-focused company, and the United Nations Foods and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) , the Google AI centre in Ghana is trying to tackle the issue to help better detect locust outbreaks and enable farmers to implement control measures.
Using Ultrasound
Ultrasound technology plays a huge role in identifying potential health issues during pregnancy. Google is working with Jacaranda Health in Kenya. The collaboration aims to help improve ultrasound AI technology, with a focus on using handheld ultrasound devices that don’t need to be attached to larger machines.
According to Google, this can help people who aren’t trained to operate traditional ultrasound machines to acquire and interpret ultrasound images and triage high-risk patients, simply by sweeping the handheld probe across the mother’s belly.
Teaching Children to Read
According to the United Nations, about two-thirds of 10-year-olds across the globe are unable to read and understand a simple story. Read Along, Google’s AI-based reading tutor app and website helps to increase child literacy.
The in-app reading buddy, Diya, listens to the speaker reading aloud and offers support when they struggle. It also rewards them when they do well.
Helping people make their voices heard
Google has built Project Relate, an Android app that uses AI research to help people with non-standard speech communicate more easily. After recording 500 phrases, users receive a personalised speech recognition model.
Now available for user testing in Ghana, it can transcribe speech into text, use a synthesised voice to repeat what the speaker has said and engage Google Assistant to complete tasks, such as asking for directions, playing a song or turning on the lights.
