DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 16 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA is set to make significant strides in technology with the upcoming construction of its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics information storage centre.
The project, to be funded by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), is currently in the planning stages, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s digital landscape.
The funding announcement was made by BADEA President Dr Sidi Ould Tah during a meeting with Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, on the sidelines of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers’ meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe.
While the announcement of the centre is a significant milestone for Tanzania’s digital aspirations, specific details about the project are yet to be unveiled.
BADEA President Dr Tah said that the completion of the project’s establishment procedures is crucial for timely implementation.
“We are excited about the potential of this project to transform Tanzania’s technological landscape,” he said.
He added, “We are currently in detailed discussions to finalise the project scope and timeline.”
The centre will serve as a repository for data and knowledge related to AI and robotics, a crucial step in Tanzania’s journey towards becoming a technology hub in the region.
“This is a landmark moment for Tanzania, we are grateful for BADEA’s support and believe this centre will be instrumental in driving innovation and economic growth.” said Kombo.
He expressed Tanzania’s willingness to work with organisations like BADEA to improve the lives of its citizens and the overall nation. He anticipates that these discussions will lead to new opportunities for both parties.
He said the Ministry will closely monitor BADEA’s agreements to ensure Tanzania fully benefits from digital infrastructure development and increased internet access. This aligns with the country’s focus on economic diplomacy.
Last month, the Information and Communication Technologies Commission (ICTC) revealed that the country is ready to deploy AI whilst allaying fear among Tanzanians that the technology would not replace human labour but increase productivity.
ICTC Director-General, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga said Tanzanians should develop their skills and learn new areas that come with this technology.
According to him, those new areas (professions) include robot coordinators, machine learning trainers, AI ethicist, chatbot designers and AI powered healthcare technician.
In showing the readiness of the country, Dr Mwasaga said Tanzania is gearing up to honour Africa’s brightest young minds in artificial intelligence and robotics competition for the first time in October this year.
Head of Mobile Experience Division Samsung Electronics East Africa, Anthony Hutia commenting on why Tanzanians should embrace AI said in today’s world, where AI is a part of lives and is expected to be even more deeply integrated into everything people do, it is of the utmost importance to understand what lies inside the black box.
“Otherwise, it will continue to overwhelm us, scare us and make us anxious,” he said
Tanzania’s judiciary is among the sectors undergoing a significant digital transformation planning to fully digitise court operations by 2025.
This includes the use of AI technology to automate tasks like transcription and translation, allowing judges to focus on decision-making. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
