AI adoption faces awareness, funding challenges

DAR ES SALAAM: ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) adoption in the country continues to face major obstacles, including limited public awareness, inadequate funding and regulatory gaps that make it difficult for local innovators to develop and commercialise their technologies.

Speaking to the Daily News in an interview during Innovation Week Tanzania 2026 in Dar es Salaam recently, NileAGI and Logi AI co-founder, Mr Isaac Odero said many people still have a narrow understanding of AI, making it harder for local developers to gain acceptance for their products.

“Things are still new. Many people believe AI is just ChatGPT and nothing else. They lack a deeper perspective on its broader capabilities,” he said.

Mr Odero said the misconception has made it difficult for developers to gain market traction for customised tools such as Delta, an offline desktop application developed by NileAGI that enables users to run AI models without internet connectivity or token fees.

He said access to finance remains another major challenge, with developers often forced to fund research, high-performance computing equipment and foreign-currency Application Programming Interface (API) subscriptions from their own pockets.

Unlike traditional sectors that benefit from dedicated empowerment funds, he said, the technology ecosystem still lacks targeted venture capital and startup support.

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Mr Odero also pointed to regulatory shortcomings, saying existing cyber security laws do not adequately address emerging AI issues such as intellectual property rights, data privacy and deepfake technologies.

He said universities also face shortages of lecturers with advanced qualifications in machine learning, leaving much of AI education largely theoretical.

Beyond policy and funding, Mr Odero said many young technology entrepreneurs face social pressure because spending long hours on computers is not always recognised as legitimate self-employment.

“The path in Tanzania is tough due to a lack of structural support. Capital is limited and family or parents often do not understand what you are doing after university. It requires patience, time and emotional support,” he said.

He urged young people interested in AI to continue building their skills to keep pace with rapid technological changes.

“The fast pace of change in the AI sector requires young people to keep learning daily so they are not left behind by technological developments,” he said.

Mr Odero said stronger investment in technology startups, improved digital policies and collaboration among innovators would help expand the country’s AI ecosystem.

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