Google is testing its AI-powered ultrasound devices in hospitals across Kenya as part of a study aimed at improving maternal health.
Ultrasound is a medical imaging technique primarily used in prenatal care to examine internal organs and assess fetal health, gender, and overall development. However, only about 16% of pregnant women in Kenya have access to these services.
“To address this gap, Jacaranda Health is collaborating with Google on an eight-month research project to explore how AI tools can support point-of-care ultrasound delivery in Kenya,” Google stated in a recent report.
These new devices are smaller, more affordable, and energy-efficient compared to traditional ultrasound machines used in maternity clinics and hospitals. The AI-enabled software enhances their accuracy in detecting irregularities in sonograms, as it has been trained on thousands of images of breasts and fetuses.
“These devices, enhanced by AI technology, simplify the process of acquiring and interpreting ultrasound images, allowing nurses and technicians to perform examinations without extensive training,” according to the Google research.
If the trial proves successful, Google plans to expand the use of these devices throughout Kenya and beyond, making prenatal care more accessible and improving overall healthcare quality.
Currently, Google is testing its AI-enabled healthcare solutions in only two countries worldwide: Kenya and Taiwan, where similar devices are being used to enhance early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other abnormalities.
Nairobi is home to one of two Google AI research centers in Africa, highlighting its role in advancing the region’s innovation in AI healthcare technologies. The other center is in Accra, Ghana.
According to a report developed in collaboration with the London-based research group Public First, AI technologies could potentially boost sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP by more than $30 billion (Ksh. 3.9 trillion).