A landmark partnership is set to expand access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence across the continent by tackling the critical barriers of cost and data usage.
Cassava Technologies has announced a significant strategic partnership with Google to democratize access to Gemini, Google’s advanced AI, for millions of Africans. This collaboration is a major step toward making sophisticated AI solutions both inclusive and accessible in the continent’s rapidly growing digital economies.
The initiative targets two of the biggest hurdles for technology adoption in Africa: cost and data consumption.
The partnership is built on two game-changing offers designed to ensure widespread adoption:
- Extended Free Trial of Google AI Plus: Eligible users will receive a six-month extended trial of the Google AI Plus plan, provided by Google. This premium plan unlocks powerful features, including: Enhanced access to the most capable model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, 200GB of cloud storage, Deep research capabilities, and advanced note-taking via NotebookLM, Generative AI tools like video creation with Veo 3.1 Fast and Flow, and higher limits for image generation with Nano Banana, Direct Gemini integration into Gmail and Docs for smarter writing and productivity.
- Data-Free Access to the Gemini App: Cassava will leverage its extensive network of technology service providers to enable eligible users to utilize the core Gemini app without consuming their mobile data. This move drastically reduces the connectivity barrier, making AI utility truly accessible.
Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, emphasized that this partnership aligns with a shared vision to “make AI more inclusive, accessible, and impactful across Africa.”
Echoing this sentiment, Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs, Gemini, & AI Studio, noted that the goal is to make Gemini helpful for everyone by “removing significant barriers to AI adoption across Africa, specifically cost and connectivity.”
By pooling Cassava’s extensive reach and Google’s technological prowess, this initiative is poised to empower individuals, businesses, and institutions to learn, build, and create using advanced AI tools, thus fostering a smarter, more connected, and more competitive Africa.
