OpenAI and the Gates Foundation have launched Horizon 1000, a pilot initiative designed to accelerate the real-world deployment of AI tools in primary healthcare systems across Africa, starting in Rwanda. The partners said they are committing a combined $50 million in funding, technology, and technical support, with the goal of reaching 1,000 primary healthcare clinics and surrounding communities by 2028.
The initiative is framed as a response to a widening gap between rapid advances in AI capabilities and their practical use in everyday care settings. In primary care—often the first point of contact for patients—leaders and clinicians face persistent constraints, including limited access to services and significant workforce shortages. OpenAI and the Gates Foundation pointed to Sub-Saharan Africa’s estimated health worker shortfall of roughly 5.6 million as a key pressure point the program aims to address through productivity- and quality-focused tools.
Horizon 1000 is expected to support African health leaders and medical experts as they move from experimentation to deployment. The partners said potential use cases include AI tools that help frontline health workers navigate complex clinical guidelines, reduce administrative burden, and enable more consistent care—freeing clinicians to spend more time with patients. The program also emphasizes measurement and learning, with success defined by demonstrable improvements for patients and the health workforce.
KEY QUOTE:
“AI is going to be a scientific marvel no matter what, but for it to be a societal marvel, we’ve got to figure out ways that we use this incredible technology to improve people’s lives.”
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
