Google’s artificial intelligence research centre in Accra, Ghana, is creating solutions to solve day-to-day problems in Africa using its AI innovations.

Google

Some of these AI solutions include flood forecasting in countries that lack early warnings for disasters; mapping buildings in remote locations to help with infrastructure planning and disaster management and high-quality short-term weather forecasts for farmers.

Other collaborative efforts on the medical front include building AI models to read ultrasound images from handheld devices with Jacaranda Health and using AI to identify potential tuberculosis patients for early detection.

Jason Hickey, co-lead at Google Research Africa, says their goal is to apply technology to problems in Africa in an impactful way and to create an innovative ecosystem that serves the continent.

Hickey says that as a research organisation, there are many parts to it, including developing a talent ecosystem, offering grants, supporting collaborations for joint research, and offering PhD fellowship programmes. Key areas of focus include climate, sustainability, machine learning and AI.

Responsible AI is critical for how we develop these technologies; AI is a new technology. There are a lot of considerations that we need to take into account. ~ Jason Hickey, co-lead at Google Research Africa

“We have explicit agreements with universities in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, and Senegal, and we’re continuing to develop those by supporting the faculties.”

Google Project Relate

Another app making a difference in people’s lives daily is Project Relate, what Google describes as an app to help people with non-standard speech make their voices heard.

It allows users to record around 500 phrases to understand the speech pattern and has core functions like listening, repeating and assisting.

Gifty Ayoka, a speech and language therapist (SLT) and founder of Talking Tipps Africa says when Project Relate was introduced, it offered a way to supplement their services and bring access to people who don’t have access to a speech therapist.

Ayoka says there are less than forty licenced SLTs servicing the whole of Ghana, which has a population of over 32 million.

“Because this is an app, training can be done online – you don’t have to be here. Since our colleagues have been trained on it, it has been truly a game changer for the people we have met,” says Ayoka.

The app is used by people with autism, post-stroke patients, those who stammer; and then those with Cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, she says.

It’s a powerful tool, especially for countries in this part of the world where we don’t have enough SLTs, adds Ayoka. “We are doing better than some countries who don’t have SLT services at all in Africa.”

She said: What has hindered people from using the app is the lack of internet access, and we’ve also met some persons with disabilities who do not have a device.

Ayoka wants governments to understand that a phone is not a luxury and because it is a somewhat assistive technology, taxes need to be reduced on devices for people with disabilities.

People with communication disabilities no longer need to face stigma because there’s an app that can help them communicate, she says.

Google has confirmed to the City Press that Project Relate will be expanding to more countries soon and South Africa is in the rollout.

*Akabor travelled to Accra, Ghana, as a guest of Google SA.

Originally published here.