By Akron Nkalitshane, Business Development Manager, Altron Arrow

Closed AI keeps data secure and compliant in South Africa. Discover why the new ASUS GX10 supercomputer strengthens local AI innovation.

South African companies are at a crossroads: adopt open or closed artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This decision goes far beyond price or     technical merit - it is about data protection, compliance and long-term competitiveness.

The hidden risks of open AI platforms

Open AI systems promise speed and low cost, but they create serious risks. Each upload of proprietary data enters an opaque environment that may store or repurpose sensitive information. In finance, healthcare and legal sectors, this is a strategic vulnerability with real financial and reputational costs.

You cannot protect what you do not own - and you cannot control what you outsource.

Regulation and data sovereignty

The South African Reserve Bank and other regulators are moving to govern AI, crypto assets and cloud computing. As data-sovereignty laws tighten, businesses must keep sensitive information within South Africa’s borders to remain compliant with POPIA and future AI legislation.

Closed AI: a strategic advantage

With enterprise-grade AI infrastructure now available locally through Altron Arrow, companies can build closed AI systems that protect data and ensure compliance without sacrificing performance.

Closed AI enables organisations to:

• Maintain data ownership and intellectual property

• Ensure regulatory compliance through local hosting

• Integrate cybersecurity by design

• Scale securely with enterprise performance

From convenience to control

Closed AI turns AI from an operational expense into a strategic capability. Layered architectures - combining on-premises infrastructure with selective cloud integration -  offer resilience and scalability while keeping data secure and auditable.

Preparing for the next competitive era

The next wave of competitive advantage belongs to companies that build AI on a foundation of security and sovereignty. By treating infrastructure as a fortress for data rather than a gateway for risk, South African businesses can innovate freely and lead confidently into the AI era.

Did you know?  Altron Arrow expanded its ASUS AI portfolio

• Altron Arrow has expanded its ASUS GPU and AI infrastructure portfolio, bringing world-class hardware closer to South African developers, researchers and enterprises.
• The latest addition, the ASUS Ascent GX10 mini AI supercomputer - will arrive in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025.
• Powered by the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, the same processor used in the NVIDIA DGX Spark, the GX10 delivers data-centre-level AI performance in a desktop-scale design. This milestone builds on Altron Arrow’s earlier introduction of ASUS AI GPUs to the local market, further democratising access to advanced AI hardware.
• “The ASUS GX10 is a strategic investment for organisations pushing the boundaries of AI, research and design,” says Akhona Nkalitshane, Business Development Manager at Altron Arrow. “We are already engaging with developers, institutions and AI start-ups eager to work with this technology.”

What you need to know about the GX10

• High-performance AI computing: Designed for model training, real-time inferencing, scientific simulation and 3D rendering.
• Enterprise-grade power in a compact form: Ideal for AI labs, research centres and innovation teams seeking local compute capacity.
• Supports closed AI deployment: Keeps data on-premises to ensure security and compliance with South African regulations.
• Available Q4 2025: Limited initial stock - organisations can reserve units now to guarantee priority access.

With the GX10, Altron Arrow is positioning South Africa to leap forward into the next era of AI sovereignty and innovation - proving that world-class computing power can now reside on the local desktop.

Call to action

Secure your AI advantage with Altron Arrow.
Develop and deploy closed, locally hosted AI infrastructure that protects your data, ensures compliance, and drives innovation.

Learn more about the ASUS GX10 and enterprise AI solutions from Altron Arrow : https://arrow.altron.com/asus-ai-gpus

Frequently asked questions

1. What is closed AI?
   Closed AI operates within controlled local environments so that data remains private, compliant and fully owned by the organisation.
2. Why should South African companies adopt closed AI now?
   Tighter data-sovereignty laws and rising cyber risks make local AI hosting essential for compliance and business continuity.
3. What role does the ASUS GX10 play in closed AI infrastructure?
   The GX10 enables on-premises AI development and processing, supporting closed AI models that never leave local servers.
4. Who is the GX10 best suited for?
   AI developers, data scientists, research institutes and design teams requiring data-centre-grade performance without cloud dependency.
5. How can I reserve a GX10 unit?
   Contact ankalitshane@arrow.altech.co.za to join the reservation list. Once units arrive, you will have 48 business hours to confirm your order.