Google announced the launch of the AI Opportunity Initiative in a major move to advance AI adoption in the MENA region.

As part of the effort, Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, will invest $15 million by the end of 2027 to support organizations across the region, ensuring that AI’s benefits reach underserved communities.

Building on its previous efforts, which have trained three million people in digital skills since 2018, Google’s new initiative aims to equip an additional half a million individuals with essential AI skills over the next two years.

Google’s AI Opportunity Initiative for MENA will focus on AI skills, research, products, and infrastructure. The company aims to provide inclusive education and training through a new Arabic AI curriculum under the ‘Maharat min Google’ program on Coursera, covering skills like prompt engineering.

It will also partner with startAD to develop AI applications for improving healthcare access in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, targeting vulnerable groups.

Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, now supports over 16 Arabic dialects and has introduced new features tailored for Arabic-speaking users.

“Gems on Gemini” allows users to create personalized AI experts for tasks such as career guidance and coding support. For younger users, “Gemini for Teens” offers an age-appropriate experience with features like content validation to ensure accuracy.

Additionally, “Imagen3 in Arabic” enables image generation through Arabic-language prompts, while “Gemini Live in Arabic” provides a conversational AI experience available on Android devices, allowing users to chat seamlessly with Gemini.

At the Google AI Connect event, Ruth Porat, President, and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, highlighted the company’s commitment to the Middle East and North Africa, noting how Google’s investments have empowered people and organizations with the innovation, connectivity, and skills needed to succeed in the global digital economy. 

“AI is estimated to contribute $320 billion in economic growth for the Middle East by 2030, and Google is working to ensure that people and communities throughout the region have the skills needed to capture the upside of this emerging technology,” she stated.