AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the most disruptive technology of this century, to the point where it is no longer limited to laboratories and fiction but is now integral to our cell phones, offices, health care systems, and even the entertainment industry. However, the more powerful AI becomes, the more the debate intensifies over whether it will steal human jobs and control society, or help us achieve things we have never done before.
According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report, there is a paradoxical situation: “Estimated global job losses due to automation and AI: 85 million jobs by 2025. New job creation: 97 million.” Notably, these losses are expected to occur mainly in manufacturing, clerical, and customer service sectors, while gains are projected in analytical, green, and digital sectors. For each lost job, will there indeed be a “new” one?
Economists forecast that the impact of AI will not be felt equally across regions. Developed economies may enjoy most of the benefits, while increased inequality in developing regions could persist unless mitigated by investments in digital infrastructure and education. According to a PwC report, AI has the potential to add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, although most of this growth will remain concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia, as Africa continues to lag behind.
The fear of control goes beyond economic issues. AI’s current capabilities include producing realistic deepfakes, tracking citizens through facial recognition, and making decisions in areas such as finance, health, and justice. Some analysts argue that these trends may lead to the erosion of democracy and human rights. The CIVICUS Monitor recently noted that “no more than 7% of the world’s population lives in countries where they enjoy full civic freedoms, down from 12% before the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to AI-facilitated surveillance.”
However, many experts argue that AI is meant to augment human capability rather than replace it. Andrew Ng, a world-renowned AI researcher, famously stated, “AI will not replace humans, but humans using AI will replace those who do not.” Even in medical diagnosis, doctors using AI make the final judgment. In journalism, AI may enhance research, but it does not replace the journalist’s role in shaping narratives. In agriculture, while AI-powered applications assist farmers, it is still the farmer who plans, executes, and makes critical decisions.
The issue is particularly pressing on the African continent. Governments are beginning to respond by crafting national AI strategies focused on fairness, security, and inclusiveness. Kenya has emerged as a leader in the ethical adoption of AI. In March 2025, the government rolled out the AI Strategy 2025–2030, which emphasizes fairness, security, and inclusiveness. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi noted that while Kenya must leverage AI for sustainable development, it must also protect citizens from exploitation. Currently, AI applications are evident in agricultural platforms such as DigiFarm, health diagnostic systems for cervical cancer, and fraud detection tools in financial technologies like M-Pesa.
Kenya ranks eighth in Africa in AI readiness, according to the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is also joining the race. The country has a draft national AI policy proposed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), while the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for ethical safeguards to prevent abuse. Nigeria’s digital economy is projected to reach $18.3 billion by 2026, driven by innovation in fintech, agriculture, and logistics. In Lagos, AI is being piloted to improve traffic management, while startups are developing AI-based platforms for financial inclusion. However, slow infrastructure development and limited human capital may relegate Nigeria to being an AI consumer rather than an innovator.
The workplace is where the impact of AI feels most immediate. In factories, robots increasingly perform repetitive tasks. In banks, computers detect fraudulent transactions faster and more accurately than humans. In the media, some TV stations in China and South Korea have introduced AI-powered “virtual anchors” that deliver news without human presenters. For workers, the pressing question remains: what happens when humans are outperformed not only in speed but also in creativity? History may hold the answer.
Ethics must not be overlooked. Who develops AI, and for whose benefit? If corporations dominate AI development, profits may grow without corresponding gains for workers. If governments control AI primarily for surveillance, freedoms may be eroded. However, if communities demand responsibility and accountability, AI can become a tool for empowerment. Kenyan community health advocate Mercy Korir recently observed, “Africa should shape AI to serve its people, not merely consume what others build.”
Will AI steal our jobs and control us? Perhaps the better question is whether we will control AI—or allow AI to control us. This is not merely a technological issue but a human one. AI is neither angel nor devil; it is a mirror of humanity’s choices. If governed wisely, it could become humanity’s greatest ally. If misused, it may deepen inequality and widen existing divides. The future of AI is not written only in code—it is written in the values we choose to uphold.
Adiambo is Kenyan student at Zetech University and the President of the Journalism Student Association of Kenya. She can be reached at vyonaadhiambo3@gmail.com
