AI Agents Reshape Work and Economy as Kenya Adapts

By Edward Mwasi
(Media Industry Strategy and Innovation Consultant at CBiT)

The Shift from Tools to Autonomous Systems

In Kenya's media and creative agency landscape, software proficiency was once the golden ticket to employment. Mastery of tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Microsoft Office was non-negotiable. However, the emergence of AI agents—autonomous systems capable of executing full workflows—has rendered even year-old reskilling strategies obsolete.

"We were training people to work with AI tools. But now, AI doesn’t just assist. It performs," notes the author. This shift isn’t just about efficiency; it’s a philosophical disruption challenging the role of humans in value chains.

Global Trends: From ChatGPT to Agentic Systems

At Dubai AI Week 2024, discussions moved beyond generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney to focus on:

• AI agents running business operations
• Agentic systems and co-pilots replacing prompt engineering
• ROI-driven applications (billing automation, recruitment, cybersecurity)

Key Insight: Success now hinges on systems design and process orchestration, not just tool proficiency.

Sector-Specific Impacts

• Solopreneurs: Seek affordable time-savers (writing assistants, schedulers)
• Small Businesses: Adopt CRM agents and support bots to stay competitive
• Corporates: Struggle to integrate AI without disrupting legacy systems
• Governments: Explore AI for citizen services and digital governance

Regulatory and Ethical Challenges

While the UAE leads with national AI strategies, global consensus lags on:

• Content ownership (e.g., AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style art)
• Ethical use in regulated industries like aviation and public administration

The "Worlds and Machines" Framework

Presented at Dubai AI Week, this model redefines scaling:

1. Businesses are worlds (values, culture, outcomes)
2. AI agents act as machines that enhance operations

Future Leaders will be systems thinkers who align technology with outcomes—not just coders or designers.

Contact: edwardmwasi@cbit.co.ke