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ALTRON BECOMES SA’S FIRST NPN COMPUTE DGX PARTNER Altron Systems Integration (ASI), a subsidiary of JSE-listed Altron, announced in January that it had joined the NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN), making it the first NPN Compute DGX partner and solutions provider in South Africa.
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SI joins the NVIDIA Partner Network as a solution provider focusing on the Compute and Compute DGX competencies, serving customers across Southern Africa in their AI journey. This gives Altron Systems Integration access to the latest hardware, trainings, technical documentation, technical specialists, and promotions for its customers. The partnership will allow Altron Systems Integration the ability to distribute NVIDIA’s AI solutions across Africa. ASI managing director Leslie Moodley explained in a statement that NVIDIA’s expertise in building end-to-end AI and data science solutions and frameworks enable every enterprise to realise their AI
potential. “As an NPN member, Altron plans to leverage NVIDIA expertise and accelerated computing technology to better serve our customers in their AI journey,” added Moodley. NVIDIA’s invention of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined mod-
ern computer graphics and revolutionised parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern AI – the next era of computing – with the GPU acting as the brain of computers, robots and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. Alfred Manhart, Vice President of Channel at NVIDIA said the company has evolved the GPU into a computer brain at the intersection of virtual reality, high performance computing, and AI. “Becoming an NPN member will enable Altron Systems Integration to take advantage of NVIDIA’s supercharged GPU computing platform, allowing customers the opportunity to accelerate discovery that prevents disease, builds smart cities, and revolutionise analytics,” he added. ai
WEBB FONTAINE TO OPEN AI R&D CENTRE IN AFRICA Jean Gurunlian, the founder of Webb Fontaine -- a leading provider of solutions for trade facilitation -- last November announced that the company plans to open an AI research and development centre in the region.
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he Dubai-based company said in a statement on LinkedIn that the new R&D centre is expected to contribute to growing and nurturing fresh African talents in the region, as well as support local governments to drive economic
growth powered by the latest innovations and technology. Gurunlian made the announcement during the inaugural Bloomberg Invest Africa while responding to a question by Bloomberg companies reporter Tope Alake on how the company is tapping
talent in Africa. It’s not clear when exactly and where in Africa the AI R&D centre will be opened. Webb Fontaine has offices in Abuja, Nigeria; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Conakry, Guinea; Cotonou, Benin, and Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. ai
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