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Admit it: You’ve probably either Googled "what is AI" or at least searched if AI will take over jobs. It turns out you're not alone.
Google has revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was searched more than ever in 2024 in Kenya and globally. In Kenya, users searched for the term 150% more than at this time last year, highlighting the country's growing tech-savviness.
According to data released by Google, Kenyans are eager to build AI skills and qualifications, with searches for "AI course" more than doubling and "AI jobs" tripling.
Searches for "how to use AI" nearly doubled, while "what is AI" increased by 60%.
This data ranks Kenya first in Africa and 13th worldwide in AI search interest. According to Agnes Gathaiya, the Country Director for Google East Africa, "AI has the potential to create opportunities—from the extraordinary to the everyday—for everyone: bringing new waves of innovation, social and economic progress. So it’s no surprise that the people of Kenya are already looking to make the most of this transformational technology, finding ways to learn more AI skills to boost their career, creativity, and society."
In a press release, Google attributed Kenyans’ growing interest in AI to the desire to build careers and foster creativity. Trending searches included "AI generated images," "AI logo maker," "AI text chat generator," and "ask AI questions"—all of which were ‘breakout’ searches in 2024, growing over 5,000% in interest since this time last year.
The research also shows that Kenyans are keen to enhance their AI skills and qualifications. Searches for "AI jobs" more than tripled (+230%), while searches for "AI course" more than doubled (+120%).
To wrap this up, I had a chat with Google’s AI, Gemini, and asked, "What is AI?" The response was: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. In simpler terms, AI aims to develop machines that can think and act like humans."
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The bot then listed AI characteristics and applications, concluding with, "AI is rapidly evolving and has the potential to revolutionize various industries. While there are many exciting possibilities, it's also important to consider the ethical implications and potential challenges associated with AI development."
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