A proudly South African innovation is set to change the way people across the country and beyond access and engage with artificial intelligence. Introducing Siza AI, Africa’s first fully email-powered AI gateway, designed specifically to serve everyday South Africans, no matter where they are or what device they use.
Built by Durban-based tech developer, Jeeten (Jay) Bhoora, Siza AI marks a major leap forward in inclusive digital transformation. Unlike conventional AI platforms that rely on fast internet, smartphone apps, or user logins, Siza is entirely accessible through email, the most widely used and universally understood digital tool on the continent.
“If you can send an email, you can use Siza,” says Bhoora. “You don’t need an app or a credit card. That’s what makes it powerful. It meets people where they are, not where the tech world expects them to be.”
Local language, local context, local impact
True to its name, Siza means “assist” in isiZulu. The platform is purpose-built to empower, educate, and support South Africans. It responds in multiple local languages, including English, isiZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati and others, making it a tool that truly speaks to the people it’s built for.
Whether it’s helping a learner understand a maths concept in their home language, offering affordable insight into body corporate law, or guiding a small business owner through the Companies Act, Siza AI delivers clear, accurate responses in under a minute.
AI built for empowerment, not replacement
With global concerns about AI replacing jobs, Bhoora is determined to flip the narrative. “In South Africa, AI can actually bridge gaps in education, in access to information, and in productivity,” he explains. “Siza isn’t about replacing people. It’s about removing the barriers that hold them back.”
Nowhere is this more critical than in education. “With one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, the future doesn’t feel like a promise for many young South Africans, rather a burden,” says Bhoora. “But if we want to tackle unemployment, we must go deeper. We must go to the root. And that root is education.”
South Africa’s learners face many challenges: under-resourced schools, a shortage of qualified educators, and learning materials often written in languages many learners don’t speak at home. “For too long, brilliance has been held back by barriers like these,” says Bhoora. “Siza was born to break these barriers.”
Through [email protected], learners can receive bilingual explanations in subjects like mathematics and science for free, helping them grasp complex concepts in both their home language and English.
“It’s not just about passing exams,” Bhoora adds. “It’s about building confidence, giving clarity, and helping learners find their voice. When we unlock education, we unlock employment, innovation, dignity, and hope.”
Siza AI has begun partnering with NGOs such as UrGlobal, founded by Luleka Mkuzo, to introduce AI literacy into under-resourced schools. Bhoora envisions a future where learners aren’t just passive users of tech, but active architects of their own digital futures.
The platform also offers dedicated email AIs for other everyday needs. These tools are just the beginning. Bhoora’s vision is to develop specialised email AIs for key areas of South African life, including labour law, business compliance, and public services to empower people with practical, affordable knowledge that helps them move forward with confidence.
“This is more than just technology,” Bhoora says. “It’s about rewriting South Africa’s story. And we believe Siza is just the start.”
Smart tech without the gatekeeping
Importantly, Siza AI is not a closed or corporate-controlled system. It runs on open-source models and has been intentionally designed for transparency and accessibility.
“Siza AI is designed for maximum accessibility,” explains Bhoora. “At its core are two types of email addresses, BASE and PRO, each tailored to meet different needs, without requiring logins, apps, or complex interfaces.”
BASE addresses are free to use and designed for everyday educational and workplace support. Examples include [email protected] and [email protected], intended for learners and professionals respectively. To use them, a person simply sends an email with their question, and Siza responds in a helpful, culturally sensitive way.
“Our BASE addresses are purposely simple to use and free of charge. They’re built to serve real people facing real challenges, whether that’s a high school learner or someone trying to build better workplace rapport.”
PRO addresses are specialised and require tokens to use. They offer expert-level assistance in specific areas, such as legal or technical domains. For instance, [email protected] helps trustees, managing agents, and body corporate members navigate South Africa’s complex sectional title laws.
Every new PRO user receives 500 free tokens, automatically linked to their email address. One token is used per word in the question sent to Siza — responses don’t deduct tokens. Additional tokens can be purchased for R200 per 1,000, valid for three months. Users can also earn tokens by sharing Siza via WhatsApp.
Bhoora explains, “We introduced PRO addresses to support more technical use cases, while keeping our BASE addresses free for those who need them most. The token model helps us ensure sustainability and fairness.”
There are no monthly subscriptions or hidden fees, just flexible, pay-as-you-go options once the free credits have been used.
“We’re building something open, local, and collaborative,” says Bhoora. “Siza AI is practical and built for real-life constraints. And it’s optimistic, rooted in the belief that when people are given tools that work for them, they’ll surprise you every time.”
Innovation with impact
Bhoora’s path to building Siza began over two decades ago when he taught himself programming after discovering the internet in high school. He studied AI through UT Austin Texas, and over the years, focused on creating tools that prioritise accessibility and impact over complexity and hype.
“In a country like ours, innovation must be relevant,” he says. “I built Siza because I believe our biggest problems are solvable. Siza is an enabler, a problem solver, and a partner for progress.”
Siza AI is not just a tech innovation, it’s a vision of what inclusive, homegrown technology can achieve when built with people in mind. It’s a statement of belief in South Africa’s potential.
