Nota AI brings edge-compressed traffic AI system to Nairobi streets

Summary

Korean startup Nota AI has signed a contract to supply its "Smart Intersection System" for an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) project in Nairobi, Kenya, building on earlier deployments in Dubai and the United States. The system uses AI model compression to run multi-channel computer vision analytics on low-power edge devices mounted at intersections, classifying vehicles and measuring traffic volume, queue length and other metrics in real time without relying on a central server. Nota claims the compressed models allow a single edge box to handle multiple CCTV feeds while consuming around 60% of the power of comparable solutions, which matters in cities constrained by energy and cooling costs. The Nairobi deployment is part of a project led by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority and LG CNS, with HANIL STM handling system design and management. For African cities grappling with congestion and limited infrastructure budgets, the deal showcases how specialised AI optimisation—rather than just bigger models—can make advanced analytics economically viable at scale.