TLDRs;
- Antei AI unveils Aura, an AI-powered system to monitor factory emissions with up to 98% accuracy.
- Aura uses cameras to track smoke in real time, replacing manual monitoring that is slow and error-prone.
- China’s mixed emissions trends create demand for precise monitoring, making Antei’s timing critical for adoption.
- Global emissions monitoring market set to hit $5.96B by 2029, fueled by regulatory and AI-driven growth.
A Hong Kong-based startup, Antei AI Innovation Hub, is turning to artificial intelligence to help tackle one of the world’s most pressing climate challenges, industrial pollution in China.
Its new platform, Aura, leverages AI-powered cameras to track the source and volume of factory emissions in real time, offering what the company describes as a faster and more accurate solution than traditional manual monitoring.
Real-time detection with high accuracy
Aura integrates directly with existing or newly installed camera systems and uses advanced AI models to detect smoke plumes from industrial facilities.
Founder Matey Yordanov said the system delivers accuracy rates between 95% and 98%, a significant improvement compared to conventional manual monitoring, which is often costly, time-consuming, and error-prone.
According to Yordanov, the system has already been tested in several Balkan countries, though he did not disclose specifics. For now, Hong Kong serves as the company’s research base, with mainland China as the main target market. As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China represents both an urgent challenge and a massive commercial opportunity for scalable emissions-tracking technology.
China’s emissions dilemma
China’s rapid industrial growth has fueled rising carbon emissions for decades. A study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that foreign companies alone contributed roughly a quarter of the country’s company-generated carbon output between 1997 and 2017.
More recent data reflects a mixed picture: in early 2025, China’s emissions fell by 1.6%, even as electricity demand increased by 2.5%.
This paradox underscores the complexity of China’s energy transition. While the power sector managed to cut CO2 output by 5.8% despite rising demand, international climate trackers still classify the nation’s current policies as “Highly insufficient.” For policymakers, businesses, and regulators, reliable tools like Aura could prove essential for measuring real progress and ensuring compliance with international climate commitments.
Growing market for emissions monitoring
Antei’s entry into the field comes at a time of rapid global expansion in emissions monitoring technologies. Industry forecasts suggest the global market will climb from $3.73 billion in 2024 to $4.1 billion in 2025, representing nearly 10% annual growth.
By 2029, that figure is projected to reach $5.96 billion, driven by stricter regulations and widespread adoption of AI-enabled solutions.
Key market trends, including cloud-based platforms, remote monitoring, and AI-driven analytics, align closely with Aura’s approach. By replacing “tens or hundreds” of human monitors with automated systems, Aura aims to reduce costs while increasing transparency and accountability in pollution reporting.
A timely solution for global needs
The timing of Antei’s push into China may be critical. As governments and companies face mounting pressure to decarbonize, the ability to verify emissions data accurately in real time is becoming a competitive advantage.
For China, where emissions are stabilizing near record highs, such precision is vital to determine whether the country has reached its long-anticipated peak.
If successful, Antei’s AI-powered platform could not only help reduce China’s environmental footprint but also serve as a model for other nations struggling to balance industrial growth with climate responsibilities.
