Artificial intelligence (AI) is topping Google Search trends in Kenya with new statistics showing a 400% increase over the last five years and 270% since last year alone.
Searches for “how to use artificial intelligence? (+350%), “what is an AI?” (+300%), “how AI works” (+200%) and “how to make artificial intelligence” (+200%) are all trending in Google Search’s latest search report.
According to Agnes Gathaiya, Director, East Africa: “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. We’re committed to working boldly, responsibly and together with Kenya to maximise the potential of AI, while minimising its abuse.
AI, the simulation of human intelligence by software-coded machines to quickly reach reasonable conclusions or solutions to complex problems, has captured the imagination of business leaders, investors and consumers alike with its superhuman capabilities. Big tech companies are investing in AI to remain on the front-line.
Google’s conversational AI service Bard in Kenya in English in March and in Swahili in July is advocating for responsible regulation, working in partnership with others, and prioritising the technology’s purpose for public good.
Globally, search interest in AI in relation to jobs increased by over 5,000% this year – while searches for AI in relation to CV or resume building increased by 1,150% and searches in relation to AI courses doubled (+100%). 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%) all also increased.
Building careers and learning new skills.
People in Kenya are also turning to Google looking for resources to build their careers. Searches for AI courses increased by 100%, while searches for “online business from home” have increased by 250% since last year, and “how to register a business” have increased by 200%.
People in Kenya are also looking to gain new certifications, particularly in digital skills – with searches for courses in virtual assistance (+450%), data analysis (+200%), digital marketing (+200%), and cybersecurity (+100%) all increasing significantly this year.
Google itself offers digital skills training – and has trained over 7 million people across Africa through its Grow with Google programme since 2015. Google’s Career Certificates also offer a unique opportunity for job seekers to reskill, without the need for a college degree or prior experience: and offers certifications including data analytics, UX design and digital marketing.
Cybersecurity and misinformation.
The trends released by Google today also show that people in Kenya continue to be concerned about protecting their cybersecurity. Searches for “DNS hijacking” (+350%), “click fraud” (+150%) and “voice phishing” (+100%) are all trending, having increased significantly since last year.
Search interest in misinformation has also increased: with searches for “fake news” increasing by over 5,000% over the past ten years, while searches for “fact-checking” and “disinformation” rose by 2,700% and 1,150% respectively over the past ten years. Searches for “how to identify fake news” have increased by 200%, while searches for “types of disinformation” have increased by 60%.
Google is using AI to address security challenges and misinformation. Gmail automatically blocks 99.9% of malware, phishing and spam, and protects more than 1.5 billion inboxes using AI – while through the Google News Initiative, engineers are working directly with fact-checkers and publishers to use AI-enabled tools to find and tackle misinformation.
Meanwhile, Jigsaw, a team within Google that develops technology to counter online harms, has partnered with local experts and academics to develop approaches to both directly counter disinformation and help people more easily identify and refute it.
AI helps Google Search to provide answers that better address the meaning of your query; Google Photos to return the right results when you search for “dogs”, and Google Maps to help predict your time to a destination.