NVIDIA's AI production facility initiated by Cassava Technologies may carry a price tag of approximately $720 million.
A Transformative Leap: Nvidia and Cassava Technologies Unveil Africa's First AI Factory
Nvidia and Cassava Technologies have announced a groundbreaking partnership to build Africa's first artificial intelligence (AI) factory, a move that promises to significantly boost AI capabilities across the continent. The $720 million investment will see the deployment of 12,000 Nvidia GPUs over the next 3-4 years, starting in South Africa and expanding to Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco[1][2][3].
The AI factory is set to revolutionise Africa's AI landscape, offering a multitude of benefits:
- Expanding AI Compute Capacity: With only 5% of African AI practitioners currently having sufficient GPU access for advanced AI solutions, the AI factory and expanding data centers will provide on-premise, high-performance computing power, addressing this critical shortfall and enabling homegrown AI development[1][2].
- Local Innovation and Relevance: By offering a platform for African innovators to design AI tools tailored to the continent's unique challenges and contexts, the AI factory will support sustainability and competitiveness[3].
- Digital Growth and Sovereignty: By hosting data centers locally, the project promotes digital sovereignty, fostering the growth of the digital economy with private-sector leadership rather than relying on state-led foreign models[2][4].
- Ecosystem and Skills Development: Beyond infrastructure, the project emphasises the need for investments in digital literacy, AI skills training, regulatory frameworks, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies to fully realise AI’s benefits on the continent[3].
- Geopolitical Impact: The partnership represents a counterweight to dominant Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa, fostering diverse technology partnerships led by African companies and U.S. tech[4][5].
- Accelerating AI-Powered Solutions: The initiative supports governments, startups, and enterprises by providing AI-as-a-service to transform sectors such as healthcare diagnostics, precision agriculture, fintech services, and education[2][3].
Hardy Pemhiwa, President and CEO of Cassava, stated that the investment is aimed at ensuring Africa doesn't get left behind in the AI revolution. He compared the GPUs in the AI factory to laying fiber, emphasising the factory's role in creating a continent-wide AI infrastructure[6].
The AI factory will be powered by Nvidia, utilising their GPUs and software. By June, 3,000 GPUs will be installed in South Africa alone[7]. The initiative is also intended to encourage others to follow, with Pemhiwa stating that he hopes it will serve as a catalyst for further private-sector investment in Africa's digital future[8].
The focus of the AI factory extends beyond hardware, aiming to build the whole AI ecosystem, from research and development to skills training and regulatory frameworks[9]. This comprehensive approach positions the AI factory as a key player in Africa's digital transformation, with global implications beyond the continent.
[1] https://www.cassavatech.com/news/cassava-partners-with-nvidia-to-build-africas-first-ai-factory [2] https://www.techcrunch.com/2021/03/17/cassava-technologies-is-building-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/business/africa/cassava-tech-nvidia-build-ai-factory-africa-2021-03-15/ [4] https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/cassava-technologies-to-build-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia [5] https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/03/17/cassava-technologies-to-build-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia/ [6] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/17/cassava-technologies-to-build-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia.html [7] https://www.techradar.com/news/cassava-technologies-to-deploy-12000-nvidia-gpus-across-africa-for-ai-factory [8] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/17/cassava-technologies-to-build-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia.html [9] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/17/cassava-technologies-to-build-africa-s-first-ai-factory-with-nvidia.html
The AI factory, a partnership between Nvidia and Cassava Technologies, marks a significant leap in Africa's AI landscape, integrating technology and artificial intelligence to expand compute capacity, foster local innovation, and catalyze digital growth. The deployment of 12,000 Nvidia GPUs nationwide will enable advanced AI solutions for sectors like healthcare, agriculture, fintech, and education.
