Google's Africa policy chief: Africa can leapfrog legacy tech straight into AI

Charles Murito, Google's Regional Director for Government Affairs and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, says Africa has a unique opportunity to leapfrog legacy technology and go straight into AI. He said this in an interview with TechArena published on 2 October 2026.

According to Murito, Africa's demographic growth could create a strong base for homegrown AI innovation — especially in healthcare, education, and agriculture. Because Africa has relatively little legacy infrastructure, he argues, it can skip steps and build AI-first solutions directly, rather than following the same path Western countries took.

But Murito warns: for Africa to fully benefit, three pillars must develop together — skills, infrastructure, and accessibility. Skills alone are not enough, he says; the continent needs scalable, resilient internet infrastructure, alternative routes when subsea cables are disrupted, and reliable, low-latency networks. And ultimately, AI tools must be affordable for more people across the continent.

On skills, Google says it has trained more than 6.5 million people since 2017 and is committed to reaching 10 million people in Africa. Through its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme, the company has supported more than 190 startups across 17 African countries — which have collectively raised more than $400 million and created over 3,500 jobs.

Murito also stresses that Africa should not just consume AI products from elsewhere. The continent needs sufficient computing infrastructure so African developers can build their own AI systems, such as solutions for supply chains, language translation, and other applications tailored to African market needs.

On regulation, Murito says innovation and trust must be built in tandem — not treated as competing objectives. He backs pro-innovation frameworks alongside robust data protection, citing Kenya's Data Protection Act as an example. He also says AI developers should give users tools to distinguish AI-generated content from human-created material — noting that Google is developing tools such as SynthID for this — and praised Kenya as an epicenter of digital innovation that can influence the wider East African tech ecosystem.

What does this mean for you?

Small businesses: AI can unlock capabilities that previously required big resources — drafting business letters, analysing information, or marketing your products abroad immediately. Start with one administrative chore that bores you every week.

Young people looking for work: The message is clear — AI skills are an employment opportunity. Programmes like Google's have trained millions of Africans, and AI startups are creating thousands of jobs. Learn to use AI tools now.

Farmers: Murito points directly at agriculture as an area where Africa can build its own AI solutions — like detecting crop diseases early or improving supply chains. Keep following this news; it's coming to you.

Teachers and students: Education is one of three sectors Murito sees as a major AI opportunity in Africa. AI tools can help create lessons, translate, and give students personalised support.