The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have announced a $50 million partnership to help African countries harness artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen their health systems.
The initiative, named Horizon1000, will collaborate with African leaders to identify the most effective ways to apply AI in healthcare, beginning with Rwanda.
“In poorer countries with enormous health worker shortages and lack of health systems infrastructure, AI can be a gamechanger in expanding access to quality care,” Bill Gates said in a blog post announcing the launch. He has repeatedly described AI as one of the most transformative technologies ever developed.
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The foundation has already launched a number of AI-focused initiatives, while Rwanda established an AI health hub in Kigali last year. Horizon1000 aims to reach 1,000 primary health clinics and surrounding communities across several countries by 2028, Gates added.
The programme arrives as many lower-income countries face significant reductions in international aid, a development Gates said had contributed in December to the first rise in preventable child deaths this century.
AI technology is expected to be particularly valuable in countries struggling with severe shortages of trained health workers. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is estimated to be short of around six million healthcare professionals, Gates noted, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions.
Horizon1000 represents a strategic effort to combine cutting-edge technology with local leadership to improve access to quality healthcare and bridge gaps in countries facing critical health workforce deficits.
