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No matter how small or large an economy is, the use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) is an inevitable tool for achieving key economic milestones.
This calls for scalable and robust information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to support the widespread roll-out of AI and ensure the technology works for the good of the country.
There is also a need for strong public and private sector participation in technological innovation, allowing for the sharing of technological knowledge and capital formation to fund innovation infrastructure.
Zambia can leverage artificial intelligence for economic growth by implementing its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy of Zambia 2024–2026, ensuring sector adoption and improving digital infrastructure.
As President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND administration seek to grow the economy and double gross domestic product (GDP) to an ambitious US$60 billion by 2031, leveraging AI could help support the target by driving efficiency across critical economic sectors.
Embracing AI-enabled technologies could help reduce bureaucratic processes and improve the turnaround time at critical government agencies such as the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), particularly in data processing and online transactions.
Kitwe-based business consultant, Emmanuel Mbambiko, said key government agencies should keep pace with modern technologies to enhance efficiency in serving the public.
“There is a need to upgrade systems especially with key government agencies like ZRA and other agencies if the country is to achieve the desired growth,” Mbambiko said.
Internet backbone critical to AI adoption
But the ability to harness AI for economic growth depends heavily on reliable internet connectivity and digital infrastructure.
Private sector players in the digital space, including Liquid Intelligent Technologies, are supporting AI and digital transformation in Zambia by investing in critical digital infrastructure, supporting youth innovation and partnering with government.
The pan-African telecommunications company has been expanding fibre and data networks in Zambia, resulting in enhanced fibre connectivity across multiple towns and connecting more than 1,300 schools nationwide, according to information from the company.
Such infrastructure provides the backbone needed for the wider adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Liquid Intelligent Technologies deploys IoT ecosystems and cloud tools that enable high-precision monitoring in sectors such as mining and agriculture, laying the groundwork for automated and AI-driven systems, including robotics, which could support industrial growth.
The company has also partnered with the Ministry of Technology and Science and E-Mark Zambia to support the United Nations AI for Good – Robotics for Good Youth Challenge.
As part of the initiative, Liquid Intelligent Technologies committed K250,000 in funding and deployed its engineers to coach students aged 10 to 18 in developing practical AI and robotics solutions, according to information obtained from the company’s website.
The development of digital infrastructure is therefore critical because AI systems require reliable connectivity, computing capacity and access to cloud-based services to operate effectively at scale.
Mining
In the mining industry, AI-powered geological modelling, predictive maintenance and remote monitoring can help optimise copper production, reduce downtime and improve worker safety.
United States-backed KoBold Metals has cut the mineral exploration period at its greenfield Mingomba mine in Zambia’s Chililabombwe significantly by using AI to process mineral exploration data.
Such technology needs to be widely adopted, including by small-scale miners, to enable faster processing of mineral data and help the sector achieve key milestones.
Agriculture
In agriculture, farmers can benefit from tools such as the PlantVillage app, which helps diagnose crop pests such as fall armyworm using mobile phone photographs, potentially protecting food security and boosting yields.
Embracing AI could also make farming more attractive to Zambia’s young population, which often shuns agriculture because of the manual nature of many farming operations.
Financial inclusion
AI is also contributing to greater access to financial services, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, through improved credit scoring, digital lending and fraud detection.
That could not have been achieved without technological innovations such as AI that are changing the way business is conducted.
With the addition of natural language processing models, there is also greater inclusiveness.
AI is now capable of processing local languages such as IciBemba and Nyanja, making government services and healthcare guidance more accessible to rural populations without the language barrier.
Read more: Liquid -expands-internet-access-with-new-k300-home-package-enhanced-4g-offer
Regulation and skills
From the Ministry of Technology and Science’s perspective, Zambia became the first country to pilot UNESCO’s updated Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM 2.0), aimed at supporting ethical deployment, data privacy and inclusive growth.
The development has given Zambia international recognition in the area of ethical AI use, a feat that could give the country a stronger footing in promoting AI-enabled technologies.
On policy and regulation, the government is revising the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act and collaborating with the European Union on a Start-up Bill to build a safe and enabling legal framework.
Partnerships with the Tony Blair Institute, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and international cooperation with entities such as China, focusing on expanding 5G networks, energy reliability and computing power, have also supported the roll-out of AI.
In addition, the Ministry of Technology and Science is revising school curricula to introduce AI learning at an early stage, tapping into the country’s youthful population.
The Copperbelt University (CBU) has also expanded its digital curriculum by rolling out its Certificate in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
CBU Vice Chancellor, Imasiku Nyambe, said the programme is offered fully online through the CBU eCampus and is designed to address the digital skills gap by providing non-technical professionals with practical AI literacy.
The programme represents a milestone in the roll-out of AI and efforts to promote seamless business transactions in the country.
Productivity and competitiveness
Experts say AI can significantly boost productivity and competitiveness in Zambia by transforming core economic sectors, automating workflows and enabling data-driven decision-making.
AI can strengthen Zambia’s development trajectory by improving productivity, deepening governance capabilities, expanding financial inclusion and supporting economic diversification.
Local enterprises can use AI for predictive inventory management, personalised customer engagement through chatbots and automated workflow optimisation, reducing workloads and improving efficiency.
Because of the global nature of AI, comprehensive adoption could help Zambian businesses compete with regional and digital-first markets by lowering operational waste and speeding up response times.
AI is, therefore, no longer simply a technology of the future. For Zambia, its effective adoption could become an important tool in improving productivity, strengthening public services and supporting the country’s broader economic growth ambitions.
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