蜜芽传媒

The US technology giant Google has announced that it will build its first product development centre in Africa, in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The Managing Director for Google in Africa, Nitin Gajria, said that his company was committed to accelerating Africa鈥檚 digital transformation.

Nate Allen is a researcher into cyber issues and emerging technology at the Africa Center of Strategic Studies, an academic institution within the US Department of Defense. Speaking to Newsday, he outlined the reasoning behind Google's move.

"Google is very much part of a growing trend. American techno companies are catching onto the fact that African internet users are going to be a key and growing source of revenue for the future. This is not Google's first major centre in Africa, they've already opened an artificial intelligence center in Ghana in 2017."

"Internet usage in Africa is growing rapidly. Google projects 800 million Africans will be internet users by 2030 - roughly half of the African population. By 2050 the population will double... and many will be part of a growing middle class."

(Pic: Google sign outside one of their offices; Credit: Reuters)

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