Corporates in Kenya are increasingly treating artificial intelligence (AI) literacy as a core workplace skill amid concern that employees who do not understand the technology risk exposing organisations to cybersecurity and data privacy threats.

Business leaders meeting at the Nation Digital Summit CEO Roundtable on Wednesday said organisations are moving beyond deploying AI tools to investing in programmes that equip workers with the skills to use the technology responsibly as it becomes embedded in everyday business operations.

It comes as firms integrate AI across various functions such as customer service, lending, data analysis, and market research.

"As AI changes how we work and compete, the challenge for leaders today is not simply keeping pace, but building organisations that can anticipate it, respond to it and continue creating value in the middle of it," Nation Media Group Chief Executive (NMG) Geoffrey Odundo said.

Julius Kamau, Absa Bank Kenya's Chief Operating and Digital Officer, said employers are encouraging staff to interact with AI beyond the workplace so that using it becomes a personal competency rather than a skill acquired only on the job.

"The goal is having the average worker bring AI to the office as a skill, not come to interact with AI as something they only use at work," Mr Kamau said. "It was one of the challenges with the adoption of computers, and we should not allow it to be the case now."

Read: Kenyans pivot to AI skills in hunt for better income

Executives reckon that AI adoption can only succeed with a workforce that understands the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.

Some warn that organisations that fail to provide structured AI training risk employees turning to publicly available AI platforms without adequate safeguards.

"Failing to embrace AI means staff will use it informally, anyway, which is a security and data risk because you end up spreading sensitive company data into all these AI models," said RWK Africa CEO Regina King'ori.

Kenya's Special Envoy for Technology, Philip Thigo, said organisations must invest in computing infrastructure and digital talent to remain competitive.

"Data should be seen as the core engine of an organisation," Mr Thigo said, adding that businesses should also strive to localise their data operations rather than rely heavily on outsourced IT functions.

The executives identified healthcare, agriculture, financial services, education, media and the creative economy as sectors where AI presents the greatest opportunities across Africa.

→ dmusau@ke.nationmedia.com

Follow our WhatsApp channel for the latest business and markets updates