Cassava, Gebeya Partner on AI Tools Enabling Africans Without Coding Skills to Build Applications

Cassava Technologies and Gebeya have launched Gebeya Dala, Africa's first AI-powered no-code creator platform, featuring an app builder that transforms simple local-language instructions into functional applications within minutes and an AI comic creator that converts oral traditions into visual content without artistic training. This breakthrough leverages Cassava's African-based GPU infrastructure for sovereign AI processing, ensuring low latency and regulatory compliance while addressing the continent's critical talent gaps.

The platform's emphasis on data sovereignty through in-continent model training represents a paradigm shift toward African AI ecosystems that reduce dependency on foreign technology stacks. By enabling mass participation without specialized skills, Gebeya Dala could catalyze grassroots innovation across Africa's fragmented markets, particularly in cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Dakar where entrepreneurial energy meets infrastructure development.

ADQ, Gates Foundation Launch $40M AI and EdTech Partnership to Boost Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa

The UAE's ADQ and Gates Foundation have committed $40 million over four years to scale ethical AI and EdTech solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of children cannot read or do basic math by age 10. The partnership launches two strategic programs: the AI-for-Education initiative developing government-guided AI models for foundational learning, and the EdTech and AI Fund—the first multi-investor vehicle dedicated to national-scale deployment of proven educational technologies launching in 2026.

This investment addresses critical market gaps where 93% of EdTech products remain unproven and the region receives just 2% of global VC allocation. By treating AI as essential infrastructure alongside energy and logistics, the partnership positions education technology for rapid adoption among Africa's projected one-third of global youth by 2050.

OPIT Expands Access to AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Science Education for African Professionals

OPIT's EU-accredited online BSc in Computer Science addresses Africa's critical AI talent shortage through flexible, competency-based learning that serves working professionals across banking, energy, telecom, and public administration sectors. With African students now comprising 20% of enrollment and growth accelerating across Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya, OPIT demonstrates a scalable model for enterprise-ready AI workforce development.

The institution's proprietary AI Copilot—trained on 131 courses and 3,500+ hours of content—provides personalized guidance while maintaining assessment integrity through intelligent anti-cheating systems. This technical architecture proves feasible integration of large language models into learning management without compromising educational standards.

Amazon in talks to invest more than $10bn in OpenAI

Amazon's potential $10 billion OpenAI investment enables Trainium chip adoption as Nvidia alternatives, potentially lowering African AI infrastructure costs through increased competition while creating opportunities for edge datacenter partnerships and subsidized cloud access for African startups.

OpenAI funding round: US$100B raise at US$830B valuation

OpenAI's unprecedented $100B raise at $830B valuation sets capital intensity benchmarks for frontier AI, pressuring African ecosystems to secure partnerships with global leaders for model access while creating co-investment opportunities for sovereign wealth funds targeting strategic AI portfolio diversification.

Boards to demand real-world returns from AI in 2026

The global shift toward ROI-driven AI adoption mirrors African enterprises' budget constraints, emphasizing smaller models and targeted implementations that align with 71% of African CEOs prioritizing measurable AI returns in sectors like telecom automation and productivity tools.

AI Data Center Market Growth

Global AI data center market projected to grow from $236B in 2025 to $934B by 2030 at 31.6% CAGR, highlighting infrastructure investment opportunities for African markets developing sovereign compute capabilities and energy-efficient processing hubs.