Cassava-based foods are staples enjoyed by millions of people around the world. From Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, to Panama, Philippine, Bermuda, Indonesia, Vietnam down to Guinea, Congo, Liberia, Ghana, Gabon, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin Republic, and Nigeria cassava is the basic ingredient in many popular cuisines. Cuisines like Farofa in Brazil, Garri and Fufu in Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries, Attieke in Cote D’Ivoire, bobolo or kwanga in Cameroun and other Central Africa countries, Bánh khoai mì in Vietnam, Tapai in Indonesia, Kabkab in Philippines, and Coxinha in Argentina, Colombia and other South American countries are all derivatives of cassava.

Cassava’s pivotal investment in AI

Cassava also has other economic uses in the pharmaceutical industry, the paper/pulp industry, in construction as a biodegradable construction material, and textiles as starch. Cassava is thus critical to the sustenance and economic well-being of societies globally. And Cassava is on the cusp of giving Africa a strong footing in the global artificial intelligence space.

However, before your imagination starts goose-chasing, it is not the beloved cassava crop that will help Africa become a strong player in global AI development. Rather, it is a company that chose to be called Cassava. Cassava Technologies is an African-owned and run tech company that recently announced plans to build AI factories across Africa thereby boosting the continent’s prospects of becoming a global player in AI. Indeed, one can easily draw comparisons between the crop and the company. One such similarity is the global appeal of both; Cassava is a globally consumed crop and Cassava Technologies is also a global player with operations in 94 countries.

Cassava/Nvidia’s AI factories on African soil

Cassava announced it has partnered with the world’s leading artificial intelligence chip maker Nvidia to establish AI factories in South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco. South Africa is set to host the pilot factory, which is expected to commence operations two months from now in June. Cassava codenamed the project ‘Project Mufungi’. Chairman of Cassava, Strive Masiyiwa, said of the ambitious project, “Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs. And now they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.” When the factories became operational, Africa would have had a foot in the door of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which would be driven mostly by AI. The continent would therefore not have to rely on the Global West to unlock opportunities in AI and achieve its desired socio-economic growth and development.

Africa’s reliance on imported technology about to end

Africa has often relied on technology importation for its digital transformation. This has not augured well for the continent as it is largely forced to consume whatever technology the West fosters on it, even when such technologies are not entirely relevant to address the continent’s unique challenges. Another issue is the cost of such emerging technologies, which could be prohibitive thus forcing African countries to sometimes adopt a wait-for-the-price-to-come-down approach before adopting such technologies. This has continued to condemn Africa to the bottom of the pyramid in the digital revolution race. Maintenance cost is also a key challenge for Africa; even when these technologies are acquired, the continent still spends so much on imported replacement parts, hardware or software upgrades, and foreign technicians to service those technologies.

Benefits of AI factories in Africa

So, to have an AI factory on African soil by an African company signifies a coming of age for Africa and is a huge step forward for the continent’s growth and development agenda. On the broad side, such factories will potentially empower African countries to leapfrog many developed economies in the digital transformation and economic race. Other benefits of an AI factory can be viewed from several perspectives in terms of job creation, poverty reduction, economic transformation, reduction in graft, early adoption of critical emerging technologies, transparency and accountability in governance, improvement in infrastructure, development of local capacities, and the reduction in governance costs.

The seemingly limitless possibilities of Generative AI are already well known with its application cutting across all spheres of life. The Global West is anxious to maintain its lead in the field to enable it continue to wield both hard and soft power globally. AI’s potential to shape the next world order was underscored in February this year when France hosted tech titans and government leaders to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. And it was clear from the meeting that nations are already positioning to lead the new order. Unfortunately, Africa was not at the table. An AI factory in Africa has the potential to help the continent get a foot into the AI door.

Also, it must be noted, the West, particularly the United States, is anxious to curtail China’s and its allies’ such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea, access to AI technology. For instance, America placed export restrictions on the sale of advanced semiconductors or AI chips to China and Chinese interests, including Chinese allies such as North Korea, Russia, Iran, and other countries considered a threat to the free world. Such restrictions are meant to hinder these nations’ AI development.

Africa courted by investors in emerging technologies

Africa is in a unique position to join in the lead for AI development. The continent’s vast natural and human resources make it an attractive investment destination for emerging technologies. For instance, there are plans by United Arab Emirates’ G42, an AI firm, and Microsoft to build a $1 billion 100 megawatts (MW) (initial) geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya to boost cloud computing in that region. The data centre is expected to come on stream less than two years from now. Last year, 14Trees, a joint venture between British International Investment and Swiss cement maker LafargeHolcim, built the first 3D-printed school in the world in Malawi. This was followed by 3D schools in Madagascar and a 3D 52-house complex in Kenya. And now, the world leader in AI chips Nvidia is partnering with Cassava to build AI factories in Africa. These investments will build local capacities, create jobs, give Africa direct access to homegrown emerging technologies, reduce the cost of acquisition and maintenance of these technologies, help develop the research and development landscape on the continent, and most importantly facilitate the export of African technology to the world thereby allowing the continent unlock opportunities in the technology and innovation global market.

Africa must embrace reforms to enjoy FDIs

However, to truly take advantage of these interests and investments, African leaders must quicken the pace of reforms in the continent’s political, economic, legal, tax, infrastructure, financial, and business landscapes. Investors want to see a transparent and inclusive governance in place, devoid of widespread and sometimes state-sanctioned corrupt practices; they want to know that our legal systems are robust and working well, enabling entities to seek and obtain redress; they want to see a stable polity and more seriousness in tackling insecurity; they desire to have an economic landscape that is not volatile in terms of inconsistencies in government policies and regulations that are needed to support businesses to thrive; they want to see a tax system that is equitable, transparent, and unambiguous.

African governments must actively court and support Cassava Technologies, other local and foreign tech players to take on ambitious projects like the AI factory. Only then can the continent unlock the great benefits a digital economy will bring in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth. (BusinessDay)