Key Takeaways
- Altron Arrow will now distribute ASUS AI graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware in South Africa.
- This move aims to make powerful AI hardware more accessible, overcoming previous cost and sourcing challenges.
- The partnership seeks to boost local AI development and innovation within South African businesses and institutions.
- Altron Arrow is also providing expertise, including support from AI consultant Ivan Coetzee, to help deploy the technology.
- The initiative hopes to position South Africa as a creator, not just a consumer, of AI technology.
Building advanced Artificial Intelligence in South Africa has faced hurdles like high costs and difficulty getting the right equipment. Now, that’s set to change.
Altron Arrow has secured a deal to distribute AI hardware from ASUS within the country. This is a significant step, as the local AI market is expected to grow rapidly over the next couple of years.
According to MyBroadband, this partnership means South Africa gets direct access to the high-performance computing hardware that powers AI breakthroughs worldwide.
The goal is to put these powerful tools into the hands of South African businesses, universities, and tech labs.
“We want businesses, entrepreneurs and educational institutions to have access to the hardware and the expertise to make this happen,” said Altron Arrow Managing Director, Renato Martins.
It’s about enabling the country to create its own AI solutions, fostering what Martins calls “real technological sovereignty.”
To support this, Altron Arrow has also enlisted AI consultant Ivan Coetzee, bringing valuable experience from AI projects Pverseas to help develop local skills needed to use this infrastructure effectively.
Martins emphasized that the company is ready to meet the increasing demand. “We have access to the hardware and skills to get you up and running in no time,” he added.
With easier access to necessary hardware and expertise, the hope is that the next big AI innovation could just as easily emerge from Cape Town or Johannesburg as anywhere else globally.
