The interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Kenya has reached an all-time high, according to Google.
More and more Kenyans are searching for information about AI, and this interest has grown significantly in recent years.
In 2023, there has been a massive increase in searches related to AI, with a 270% rise compared to the previous year and a 400% increase over the past five years.
People in Kenya are curious about AI and have been looking up topics like “how to use artificial intelligence,” “what is an AI,” “how AI works,” and “how to make artificial intelligence.”
Google believes that this surge in interest is linked to the launch of its conversational AI service called Bard.
Bard was first introduced in English in March and later in Swahili in July 2023. It has contributed to the growing fascination with AI among Kenyans.
Aside from seeking information, Kenyans are also interested in using AI to improve their lives.
Searches related to AI jobs have skyrocketed by over 5000% this year.
Additionally, people are looking into using AI to enhance their CVs or resumes, with a 1,150% increase in related queries, and there’s been a doubling in interest in AI courses (+100%).
People in Kenya are also keen to explore AI’s creative applications, as shown by the significant growth in searches for “free AI image generator” (+2,500%), “AI music generator” (+2,200%), “AI website builder” (+1,600%), “AI video generator” (+1,400%), and “logo maker AI” (+1,150%).
Agnes Gathaiya, Google’s East Africa Director, emphasized the company’s commitment to working with Kenya to harness the potential of AI while ensuring its responsible use.
“It’s great to see people in Kenya showing such a keen interest in the transformational technology that is AI.
People in Africa and across the world are already using and benefiting from responsibly developed AI-based tools every day – but the speed of technological advancement is accelerating, and while it’s exhilarating to see these breakthroughs, it’s important that we get it right here in Kenya,” she said
Kenyans are also focused on building their careers and acquiring new skills.
Searches for AI courses have increased by 100%, and there’s been a 250% rise in searches for “online business from home” since last year.
Interest in “how to register a business” has also gone up by 200%.
Furthermore, Kenyans are increasingly interested in gaining certifications, especially in digital skills.
Searches for courses in virtual assistance (+450%), data analysis (+200%), digital marketing (+200%), and cybersecurity (+100%) have all seen significant growth in 2023.
Google’s “Grow with Google” program has trained over 7 million people in Africa since 2015, offering opportunities for individuals to learn new skills without the need for a college degree or prior experience.
In terms of cybersecurity and online threats, Kenyans are becoming more aware.
Searches for “DNS hijacking” (+350%), “click fraud” (+150%), and “voice phishing” (+100%) have increased, reflecting a growing concern about online security.
Misinformation is also a worry, with searches for “fake news” rising by over 5,000% in the past decade.
Queries related to “fact-checking” and “disinformation” have increased by 2,700% and 1,150%, respectively.
Searches for “how to identify fake news” have gone up by 200%, while searches for “types of disinformation” have increased by 60%.
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