Prof Talita Greyling Director In 2025 the first research centre globally dedicated to integrating Artificial Intelligence, Big Data analytics, and social science to advance wellbeing, quality of life, and sustainable societal development was established at the University of Johannesburg. Building on the internationally recognised Gross National Happiness.today (GNH.today) project, the Centre for Wellbeing, Artificial Intelligence and Social impact (C.WAIS) generates real-time wellbeing measures and cutting-edge research that informs policymakers, statistical agencies, international organisations and civil society. C.WAIS work extends beyond traditional economic metrics to incorporate subjective and experienced wellbeing, ensuring inclusive, evidence-based and sustainable development for communities, countries, continents and our planet and operates at the frontier of Fourth Industrial Revolution methodologies, combining machine learning and other AI technologies, advanced econometrics and behavioural science to solve pressing global challenges. C.WAIS research agenda focuses on real-time wellbeing data used by researchers, statistical services, and policymakers internationally under the following themes: Real-time measurement of subjective and experienced wellbeing AI-driven policy analytics Behavioural responses to crises Compliance, trust and governance Innovation and inclusive development Africa-focused wellbeing research CENTRE FOR WELLBEING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL IMPACT (C.WAIS) School of Economics 61 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025
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