By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
M-PESA Africa has hosted
renowned technology policy expert and former Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium and
the European Union, Prof. Bitange Ndemo, for a thought leadership session
focused on the growing impact of artificial intelligence on business, innovation
and society.
Prof. Ndemo, who is widely
credited for helping drive Kenya's digital transformation during his tenure as
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, shared
insights on how artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way people
work, conduct research, analyse information and make decisions.
Addressing participants
during the engagement, Prof. Ndemo highlighted the transformative potential of
AI across industries, noting that the technology is becoming an increasingly
important tool for improving productivity, innovation and efficiency.
However, he cautioned that
the true value of artificial intelligence extends beyond simply adopting or
using AI-powered tools.
According to him,
organizations and individuals that will derive the greatest benefit from AI are
those that develop strong critical thinking and decision-making capabilities
alongside technological adoption.
He emphasized the importance
of questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, identifying bias,
understanding context and exercising sound judgment in an era where
AI-generated information is becoming more prevalent.
Prof. Ndemo noted that while
artificial intelligence can process vast amounts of information and generate
insights at unprecedented speed, human oversight remains essential to ensure
responsible and effective decision-making.
He further stressed that
strategic thinking and ethical leadership will become increasingly important as
businesses integrate AI into their operations and workflows.
The session formed part of
M-PESA Africa's efforts to foster conversations around emerging technologies
and their implications for the future of work, innovation and digital
transformation across the continent.
