2025 has arrived, and if last year’s news was any indication, artificial intelligence isn’t some distant, sci-fi dream. It is here, it is growing, and it is transforming how we live, work, and even laugh. Yes, laugh.
If you’ve spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) in recent days, you might have noticed those cheeky, A.I generated images of “Must Go” in over-the-top scenarios. But before we get too caught up in all the fun here, let’s discuss what all of these AI trends mean for us this year.
1. Laying the Groundwork for Widespread AI Adoption
The likes of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind are driving the global AI renaissance, with tools that are smarter, faster, and more human in their capabilities. And these technologies are just meant to optimize everything from customer service to even highly advanced data analysis. “AGI 1” was how Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, referred to their latest iteration of his game-changing model O3 and that it was closer to actual Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
This evolution of AI systems with infinitely broader and more flexible purposes is driving a global conversation about the future of work and creativity. Here in Kenya, we are already witnessing AI quietly penetrating sectors such as fintech, healthcare and agriculture. Big Kenyan companies like Safaricom already embraced AI in its customer service activities, tech, research and advertising.
Agritech made significant strides in 2024, introducing AI-driven tools such as chatbots that advise on fertilization techniques, precise soil sensors that provided farmers real-time updates on soil health and drone technology powered by AI that ensured targeted pesticide application. Farmers not only saved time with this tech, but also improved yields and cut costs.
2. AI in Activism: When Memes Are Weapons
Activists in Kenya have always had to be creative, but now AI tools are sharpening that creativity. The iceberg tops with the satirical visual creations of political leaders using platforms like Grok. It’s not simply about mockery; these A.I generated memes frequently have cutting political commentary that can provoke argument—and occasionally outrage.
Kenyan activists also used artificial intelligence in 2024 to scrutinize government spending data, uncovering discrepancies and signs of corruption in the budget. At the onset of the June protests, Kenyan techies trained chatbots to inform citizens about their rights in the constitution. But there are risks that come with this trend. In a country where political tensions and injustices are at an all time high, these memes and tools could be used to weaponize the spread of disinformation or ignite tribal and gender divisions.
3. AI-Powered Healthcare
2024 was a breakthrough year for AI in Kenya's health sector. Telehealth platforms integrated AI that diagnosed common ailments and chatbots provided 24/7 access to medical advice. Startups launched A.I tools for spotting diseases, including apps that examined skin conditions or eye images to detect diseases like diabetes or glaucoma.
Some hospitals started testing AI scheduling systems to shorten patient waiting queues. In an attempt to improve the mental wellness of Kenyans, Kenya Red Cross partnered with Pathways to develop a mental health chatbot, a tool that starts conversations on mental health and suggests ways to help, such as breathing exercises and in-person services, in English and Swahili. Girl Effect also launched a chatbot called Wazzii that helps young adults navigate the tricky waters of sexual reproductive health by asking questions in English, Swahili and Sheng.
4. AI-Driven Job Disruptions
In 2024, one of the most significant impacts of AI adoption in Kenya was the transformation of the job market. There were losses, especially in customer service, marketing and data entry sectors, as automation took over certain functions, but there were also new opportunities directly related to that automation, in the field of AI itself. Jobs like AI trainers, prompt engineers, data analysts, and software engineers that focused on AI systems became crucial.
Gig platforms also sprang up offering micro-jobs, such as labeling data for AI training, presenting alternative income options for many. But it emphasizes the concern with up-skilling programs that will help employees transition into new roles, created specifically from AI technology.
5.Explosive AI use in Marketing and Social Media
In 2024, Kenyan businesses turned to AI-powered advertising, developing tailored ad campaigns that spoke to the exact audience they wanted to reach. AI algorithms assisted brands in understanding customer preferences and behavior, and promoted such engagement throughout targeted promotions. AI bot influencers emerged on social media—virtual personalities engineered to engage with followers, endorse products, and even offer motivational messages.
These bots, [which can often mimic the behavior and language of real people] became popular among big international brands for their reliability and cheapness. This however is not yet a trend in Kenya, but just like the Mpesa shops sprung up in troves after one successful one, we should expect Kenyan AI influencers to become a thing within the coming years.
6. Kenyan Law & AI: A Challenge in the Race Against Time
One of the most interesting ways AI was used last year was to help Kenyans understand the bills being tabled in parliament. For example, during discussions around the Financial Bill 2024, a developer uploaded the entire bill into ChatGPT, making it easier for people to digest its content by prompting the AI with specific questions. This approach allowed many to engage with complex legislation more effectively, cross-referencing the AI’s responses with the actual document when unsure. Similarly, IT Bills proposing controversial licensing fees for Kenyan IT professionals were uploaded online to spread awareness. Using AI helped break down these dense proposals and made public participation more informed and impactful.
One of the biggest challenges in Kenya currently is that our legal framework has not caught up with AI. For instance, who is responsible if an AI-powered system makes a bad decision? What do you do when an AI tool spreads hate speech unintentionally? And what safeguards are available to those who are the targets of AI-driven campaigns?
There’s a global push to rein in AI—the EU has an AI Act, and other countries are writing similar laws. But in Kenya, these conversations are still nascent. That’s an issue because, without clear regulations in place, we are at risk of both being exploited and harmed.
Picture this: a Kenyan startup that employs an AI tool to screen job applications, only to find that they naturally end up discriminating against candidates from certain parts of the country because of biased training data. Without appropriate vigilance, these problems risk exacerbating current inequalities.
7. Youth and Innovation’s Role
Kenya’s youth are among the most innovative in the world, and many are already using AI to solve local challenges. From Mang’u High School experimenting with robotics and Zetech sending their computer science representative, Kelvin Kang’ethe, to Greece for the inaugural global robotics challenge, it is no debate that the Kenyan Youth are already living in the future.
In 2024, enterprising young people also created AI powered apps, such as the BodaPro AI; an AI mobile application that aims to improve the driving behavior of Boda Boda riders, leading to a reduction in accidents caused by reckless driving. This is just one example of the AI powered tools that were created to solve local problems. Yet the real issue still entails pumping resources into local AI research, startups, and the conditions for an ecosystem that makes for good, old-fashioned innovation.
8. The Lighter Side of AI
Naturally, not everything concerning AI has to be serious. Get ready for more viral AI-generated art, music, and entertainment in Kenya. From AI comedians who make jokes in Sheng, to AI DJs who create playlists for your next road trip to Naivasha.
In 2024, AI-driven platforms assisted Kenyan content creators with speeding up video editing, scriptwriting, and digitally creating avatars for their shows. Matatu graffiti artists used AI to get new art ideas, mixing classic Stoner styles with futuristic patterns. And who knows? Perhaps AI will finally solve one of our greatest mysteries: Why Kenyan matatus always stop at the worst possible places.
So What Is This All Going To Mean For You?
AI is here to stay, and we can choose how we’ll leverage it. Will we use it to bridge our greatest divides, or will we allow it to deepen existing gaps? But I wonder whether we will use it responsibly, or we will become prey to its proper usage.
