by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – CASSAVA Technologies plans to build Africa’s first artificial intelligence (AI) factory.
It is hailed as a powerful and super-secure data centre facility, powered with NVIDIA AI computing technology.
Cassava’s AI-enabled data centres will help Africa develop domestic AI technologies, increase productivity, protect data and support businesses, making the continent economically competitive and future-ready.
This will give African businesses, governments and researchers access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity, helping them develop smarter AI products, streamline operations and stay competitive in a fast-changing world.
Cassava plans to deploy NVIDIA-accelerated computing and AI software using NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures, at its data centres in South Africa by June 2025, with expansion planned at its other data centre facilities in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria.
Cassava’s AI Factory will leverage the company’s fibre-optic network with sustainable data centres to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS).
The data centres are designed to be energy efficient, using less electricity to power AI computing workloads.
Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Chairman of Cassava, said, “Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution.”
“Collaborating with NVIDIA gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence.”
NVIDIA is an American multinational corporation and technology company.
“As an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, Cassava is providing essential infrastructure and software to help pioneering companies and organizations accelerate AI development to foster innovation across the continent,” said Jaap Zuiderveld, NVIDIA Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
– CAJ News