Cassava Technologies has announced the launch of its Cassava AI Multi-Model Exchange (CAIMEx), a first-of-its-kind platform designed to make the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) tools and large language models (LLMs) easily accessible to mobile network operators (MNOs) across Africa.
- •The platform serves as a one-stop shop for accessing multiple AI models from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others.
- • Instead of navigating complex integrations or cost-intensive infrastructure, African MNOs can now connect to the most powerful AI technologies through a single, easy-to-use platform, managed and supported locally by Cassava.
- •Separately, at the Africa Tech Summit, Cassava announced that it is now Africa's first NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP), deploying NVIDIA GPUs across five sites to power the continent's Al innovation.
“Through CAIMEx, Cassava is creating a bridge between global innovation and African ambition, giving every MNO the ability to offer subscribers world-class AI tools and LLMs easily and affordably,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Cassava AI.
The platform enables mobile network operators to choose the model that best fits their subscriber and enterprise needs, from fast, real-time intelligence and advanced reasoning to trusted, ethical decision-making and open-source flexibility.
All services are hosted in Cassava’s regional AI factories, guaranteeing access to high performance compute, data security, and compliance with local data protection regulations.
Separately, Cassava has partnered with Google to expand access to Google's AI model, Gemini, in Africa. The partnership includes a six-month extended trial of on the Google AI Plus plan and data-free access to the Gemini App, facilitated by Cassava's network of technology service providers.
"We see a future where students can access Gemini 24/7 to learn new concepts, code, and create without ever watching a data meter. With the Google AI Plus trial, they can use Deep Research for complex university-level subjects, and enjoy higher creation limits for images and video with our newest creativity models," John Woodward, VP of Google Labs and Gemini, said while announcing the partnership.
In October, global computing infrastructure company Nvidia made an undisclosed investment in Cassava, which is deploying AI data centres with a US$ 700mn budget. The initiative includes facilities in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco, designed to host tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs for AI model training and enterprise computing.
