The rise of AI agents, opportunity, responsibility and trust

DAR ES SAAAM: ARTIFICIAL Intelligence is evolving faster than many people realise. After becoming skilled at answering questions, AI is now beginning to perform tasks, make decisions and assist people in entirely new ways. In this week’s technology column, we discuss what AI agents are, how they could benefit Tanzania and why human judgment, good governance and cybersecurity will remain indispensable.

A few years ago, Artificial Intelligence (AI) amazed us by answering questions, translating languages and helping us write emails. Today, AI is entering a completely new era. Instead of simply responding to our requests, it is beginning to perform tasks on our behalf.

These new systems are called AI agents, and they are set to change the way we live and work. Imagine telling your phone: “Find the cheapest flight to Dodoma, book a hotel near the conference venue, arrange airport transport and remind me a day before departure.” Within minutes, everything is done without you having to open several applications.

That is the promise of AI agents. Unlike traditional AI tools that wait for instructions one step at a time, AI agents can plan, make decisions, complete multiple tasks and adapt when circumstances change. They behave more like digital assistants that can actually get work done.

For Tanzania, this is not science fiction. It is a technology that is rapidly becoming a reality. The opportunities are enormous In banking, AI agents could help customers manage their finances, remind them about loan repayments, detect suspicious transactions and recommend better saving habits.

Instead of waiting in long queues or spending time searching for information, customers could receive personalised assistance at any hour of the day.

Farmers could benefit greatly as well. An AI agent could monitor weather forecasts, analyse soil conditions, recommend the best planting dates, compare market prices and even arrange transport for produce to the nearest market.

Small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, could make better decisions using information that was previously difficult to access. Healthcare is another area where AI agents could make a difference. Patients with chronic illnesses could receive medication reminders, book clinic appointments automatically and alert family members if health indicators become abnormal.

Doctors and nurses could spend less time on paperwork and more time caring for patients. Education could also be transformed. Every student could have a digital tutor available day and night. AI agents could explain difficult subjects, prepare revision plans and monitor learning progress according to each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Government services may also become faster and more efficient.

Citizens applying for licences, permits or certificates could receive guidance throughout the application process, reducing delays and improving public service delivery.

Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, stand to gain significantly. AI agents could prepare reports, monitor inventory, analyse customer feedback, schedule meetings and even identify new business opportunities.

Entrepreneurs could spend less time on routine administration and more time growing their businesses. However, every technological revolution comes with new responsibilities As AI agents become more capable, they will also become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

If an AI agent has permission to access bank accounts, emails, business records or government databases, criminals will naturally try to exploit it. Imagine a fraudster successfully deceiving an AI agent into transferring money to the wrong account.

Or imagine an AI agent being manipulated into approving fraudulent transactions or revealing confidential information. The risks are real and must never be underestimated. Privacy is another important concern.

AI agents work best when they know a great deal about us, our schedules, shopping habits, travel plans, health records and financial information. While this allows them to provide personalised services, it also means organisations must handle personal information responsibly and comply with data protection laws. Perhaps the biggest question is accountability.

Suppose an AI agent makes a wrong investment decision, approves a fraudulent payment or rejects a deserving loan applicant. Who should be held responsible?

The software developer? The organisation using the AI? Or the employee supervising the system? These are questions that governments, regulators, company boards and business leaders around the world are now debating. The lesson is clear: AI should support human decision-making, not replace human responsibility.

This is particularly important in critical sectors such as banking, healthcare, law enforcement, education and national security, where mistakes can have serious consequences. Boards of directors and senior executives should therefore treat AI as both a business opportunity and a governance issue.

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They need to ensure that AI systems are transparent, secure, regularly monitored and used ethically. Internal auditors, cybersecurity professionals and risk managers will play an increasingly important role in providing independent assurance that these systems are functioning as intended.

For ordinary Tanzanians, the message is equally important As AI agents become part of daily life, digital literacy will become as valuable as reading and writing.

People should learn how AI works, verify information before acting on it and avoid blindly trusting every recommendation made by a machine. Parents should encourage children to use AI as a learning partner rather than as a shortcut to avoid thinking.

Teachers should help students develop creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, qualities that machines cannot easily replace. Businesses should train their employees to work alongside AI instead of fearing it. History has shown that technology changes jobs, but it also creates entirely new opportunities for those willing to learn.

Tanzania has already made significant progress in digital transformation through expanding broadband connectivity, growing mobile money services and increasing access to digital government platforms. AI agents could become the next major milestone in this journey, helping improve productivity, expand financial inclusion and strengthen service delivery.

Yet success will depend not only on adopting new technology but also on using it responsibly. Strong cybersecurity, good governance, ethical leadership and continuous skills development must accompany every stage of AI adoption. The future will not belong to people who compete against AI. Neither will it belong to AI acting alone. It will belong to those who combine human wisdom with the power of intelligent machines.

AI agents are not here to replace us. They are here to work with us. The challenge for Tanzania is to ensure that these digital colleagues remain trustworthy, secure and firmly under human guidance. If we get that balance right, the rise of AI agents could become one of the greatest opportunities for our nation’s digital future. “Every technological revolution changes the tools we use.

The AI revolution is different because it is beginning to change how decisions are made. Tanzania’s greatest opportunity lies not in allowing AI to think for us, but in ensuring that it helps us think and act more wisely.”