Google is getting ready to launch a new artificial intelligence research center in Africa, the company has announced. The lab will be located in Accra, Ghana, and will launch “later this year”, according to a post on the company’s blog.

In announcing the new research center, the company explained, “AI has great potential to positively impact the world, and more so if the world is well represented in the development of new AI technologies.” The company also noted the growing activity around machine learning on the continent through events like Data Science Africa 2017 in Tanzania and 2017 Deep Learning Indaba in South Africa, and highlighted its support of more than 60 tech startups through its Launchpad Accelerator Africa program.

The new AI R&D lab could play an important role in Google’s overall business as the company continues to intensify its focus on artificial intelligence technology, which it has looked to as a key market differentiator for its recent hardware devices. The announcement also reflects a broader enthusiasm about AI technology, with other major firms like Qualcomm and Samsung also having recently announced new AI research centers around the world.

Google’s Accra AI Center will be headed by research scientist Moustapha Cisse, and the company is currently recruiting more talent ahead of the center’s opening.

Source: The Keyword