AI_r

Overview

The AI_r project, led by Wits University, is a low-cost, AI-enabled air quality monitoring network that is transforming how South African communities and governments understand and act on air pollution—potentially saving thousands of lives a year. By deploying 500 low-cost, AI-enabled air quality sensors across Gauteng province, the project is empowering South African communities with real-time pollution data. The network—the densest in Africa—is helping residents validate long-standing concerns, advocate for cleaner air, and influence public health policy. With 28,000 premature deaths annually linked to air pollution in South Africa, the project offers a scalable, community-driven model for responsible AI deployment in low-resource settings that leads to positive health outcomes. The project is already influencing policy engagement, with early-stage discussions underway to integrate air quality data into public health planning. This could help prevent thousands of premature deaths annually