African countries are accelerating their digital transformation efforts, improving services, and adopting new technologies to drive efficiency across various sectors. Governments are modernizing infrastructure, rolling out broadband internet, and investing in innovative solutions to address challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance.

Tanzania is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline public service delivery and combat inefficiency, officials announced at the annual e-government meeting (Arusha, February 6-8).

"Physical delivery of services in public institutions and government agencies continues to be a challenge due to the prevalent lackadaisical attitude among many workers. This often results in delays and substandard executions of tasks.[...] We also want to totally eradicate queues and delays as people scramble to be served at public institutions and organizations, something that has been raising many complaints from people across the country," said George Simbachawene, Minister of State for Public Service Management and Good Governance, citing prevalent disinterest among some public servants as a key challenge.

AI adoption in Africa is gaining momentum, driven by its potential to improve online services across various sectors. Several countries are actively pursuing this technology, backed by international support.

Last November, the UK and partners pledged £80 million to boost AI development in Africa, while UNESCO earlier supported Morocco's digital transformation efforts including AI.

However, concerns exist about Africa becoming a testing ground for unproven AI solutions. Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, a UN AI advisor, urges African countries to implement "real control" over the technology to avoid exploitation.

Adoni Conrad Quenum