Interest in artificial intelligence is surging in Kenya, with Google searches for AI up 270% this year as people look to the emerging technology for productivity, creativity and careers, the tech giant said Monday.
Searches for “how to use artificial intelligence?” rose 350%, “what is an AI?” jumped 300% and “how AI works” increased 200%, according to Google trends released Monday. The company sees “huge potential” in using AI responsibly to help people and businesses in Kenya.
“It’s great to see people in Kenya showing such a keen interest in the transformational technology that is AI,” said Agnes Gathaiya, Google’s director for East Africa.
Along with informational searches, Kenyans increasingly want to use AI tools in real life. Searches for AI-powered image, music, video and website generators have skyrocketed up to 2,500% over the past year, Google said.
Read more: Kenyan Startups to Benefit from AI Training by Google
Job seekers are also looking to AI as searches for “AI jobs” grew more than 5,000% in 2023. Searches for AI courses doubled, and those for AI in resume building rose 1,150% as people look to gain skills, Google said.
Google itself aims to help through digital skills programs like Grow with Google, which has trained over 7 million Africans since 2015. Its Career Certificates offer credentials in high-demand fields like data analytics without needing a college degree.
Kenyans are not just excited about AI, but also concerned. Searches for AI security threats like “DNS hijacking” and “voice phishing” have risen sharply, along with those for misinformation like “fake news” and “disinformation.”
Google said it uses AI to tackle these problems by blocking malware and spam in Gmail and partnering with fact-checkers and news publishers to counter misinformation.
“While it’s exhilarating to see these breakthroughs, it’s important that we get it right here in Kenya,” Gathaiya said about the rapid advancement of AI. “We’re committed to working boldly, responsibly and together with Kenya to maximise the potential of AI, while minimising its abuse.”
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