Government Praises AI's Impact on the Economy as Key Sectors are Transformed

The Government has praised the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the economy as key sectors continue to be transformed. Significant gains have been made in agriculture, education, healthcare and financial inclusion as these sectors have made AI an integral part of their industries.

Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr Habeenzu commented that AI's impact on the agriculture sector has been profound, with precision and climate-smart farming increasing yields by up to 20%.

Dr Habeenzu was speaking in Lusaka today as he officially opened the Inclusive Digitalisation in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) programme workshop.

He then explained the benefits AI has brought to the healthcare sector, noting that it has reduced missed cases by between 20% and 40%, giving patients a greater chance of receiving timely diagnosis and treatment.

The education sector is also experiencing fewer literacy gaps as adaptive learning platforms have been enhanced by AI.

The four-day workshop has been organised by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the World Bank.

Dr Habeenzu also commented that the Government is identifying the remaining gaps in AI that need to be addressed.