Cassava Applied sciences in deal to scale Africa’s AI innovation

The strategic partnership between Cassava Applied sciences and Zindi goals to empower native expertise to drive AI innovation by leveraging GPU-powered assets to resolve Africa’s distinctive challenges.
collaboration is poised to see each entities discover alternatives to leverage one another’s platforms, ecosystems, and communities to increase attain, development and influence.
A part of the partnership will contain the launch of a devoted AI problem aimed toward uncovering rising expertise and high-impact improvements.

The tempo of AI innovation in Africa has acquired a well timed enhance with two firms Cassava Applied sciences and Zindi, a platform that unites information scientists throughout the continent, agreeing to companion to speed up uptake of the brand new know-how.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the 2 companies have agreed to hurry up the supply of GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-powered purposes to deal with distinctive challenges in Africa, a transfer that’s poised to considerably enhance digital transformation throughout economies.

The transfer will see Cassava Applied sciences provide Zindi entry to its superior GPUaaS platform infrastructure, thereby enabling the event of revolutionary AI fashions and instruments by information scientists in Africa.

Based on website hosting companies platform Liquid Internet, GPU as a Service (GPUaaS) is a cloud-based providing that sees customers to entry highly effective graphics processing models (GPUs) on demand. Fairly than investing in and sustaining their very own GPU {hardware}, customers can lease the computing energy they want from a cloud supplier, scaling up or down as required.

This versatile mannequin permits companies and people to run demanding duties—similar to AI coaching, deep studying, and different high-performance computing purposes—with out the numerous upfront prices and upkeep burdens of conventional, on-premises infrastructure.

Within the Cassava Applied sciences and Zindi association, the latter will usher its vibrant neighborhood of over 50,000 information scientists an opportunity to work with a variety of knowledge assets to develop, take a look at, and speed up the expansion of AI innovation instruments tailor-made for native challenges.  Zindi helps information practitioners of all ranges study, develop and entry skilled alternatives whereas constructing real-world options for international organisations.

On its half, by its enterprise models: Cassava AI, Liquid Clever Applied sciences, Liquid C2, Africa Information Centres, and Sasai Fintech, Cassava Applied sciences supplies its clients’ services and products throughout 94 international locations.

Cassava Applied sciences, Zindi forge alliance for Africa’s digital development

The partnership blends Cassava Applied sciences’ superior digital infrastructure with Zindi’s mission to develop Africa’s AI expertise pool by internet hosting information science competitions and challenges. This collaboration is poised to see each entities discover alternatives to leverage one another’s platforms, ecosystems, and communities to increase attain, development and influence.

“For Africa’s AI ecosystem to develop and thrive, it’s important to supply platforms and assets for the continent’s builders and start-ups,” mentioned Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Applied sciences. “Combining our information centres’ superior GPU capabilities with Zindi’s revolutionary information science platform creates a robust basis for digital development. Cassava is proud to help native stakeholders as they develop digital options to a few of Africa’s most urgent issues.”

Zindi, referred to as Africa’s pioneering AI problem platform, works with personal firms, governments, and NGOs to develop datasets and AI challenges aimed toward fixing real-world issues—from agriculture and healthcare to finance and schooling. The platform is instrumental in enabling native AI builders to entry curated challenges and information whereas gaining publicity to hiring alternatives and funding.

Empowering expertise, driving innovation

Zindi CEO and Co-Founder Celina Lee lauded the collaboration’s potential to redefine AI innovation on the continent. “Zindi is thrilled on the alternative to companion with Cassava Applied sciences to strengthen African datasets, deal with native issues with locally-developed options, and assist extra African AI builders entry the assets they should succeed,” she mentioned.

Lee added {that a} central a part of the partnership will contain the launch of a devoted AI problem aimed toward uncovering rising expertise and high-impact improvements. “Collaborating on the launch of a problem particularly aimed toward nurturing Africa’s AI expertise is not going to solely expose entrepreneurs and revolutionary options; it should assist construct new abilities and create employment alternatives.”

Investing in Africa’s AI future

This partnership additionally aligns with Cassava’s broader ambitions for Africa’s digital financial system. The corporate not too long ago unveiled plans to launch its AI enterprise in 2024, anchored by Africa’s first AI manufacturing facility—an initiative that’s tailor-made to spice up native innovation, drive financial inclusion, and place Africa as a world participant in accountable AI growth.

With the signing of this MoU, Cassava and Zindi will not be solely constructing a pipeline of next-generation African AI specialists but in addition laying the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive AI ecosystem.

The collaboration serves as a take a look at case in constructing Africa’s capability to form its digital future by innovation, funding, and partnerships that put native expertise on the forefront of technological progress.

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