Online Reporter
Jacqueline Ntaka, Opinion
THE evolution of artificial intelligence has taken a significant leap with the emergence of AI agents — autonomous systems that go beyond reactive responses to actively perceive their environment, make decisions, and execute complex tasks independently.
Unlike traditional chatbots or virtual assistants that rely on direct prompts, these agents can manage schedules, book travel, and automate entire business workflows, redefining productivity across industries.
AI agents are being adopted globally, transforming sectors from finance to logistics. Their autonomy allows them to take a broad instruction — such as planning a business trip — and break it down into actionable steps, interacting with external systems like flight booking platforms and calendar apps to complete the task without further human input.
Their ability to connect with diverse tools and data sources enables them to browse the web, query databases, send emails, and update spreadsheets seamlessly. Moreover, they learn from experience, using persistent memory to refine their strategies and improve efficiency over time.
In commercial settings, AI agents are streamlining high-effort tasks such as customer support triage, report drafting, and supply chain optimisation.
These capabilities are driving measurable gains in productivity and operational agility. While much of the development is centred in global tech hubs, the potential impact in Africa — and Zimbabwe in particular — is immense. Generative AI and agentic systems could unlock billions in economic value, especially in sectors where reach and efficiency are paramount.
In Zimbabwe, AI agents are already making inroads. Financial institutions and mobile network operators are deploying conversational agents to handle routine customer queries, freeing human staff for more complex interactions.
In agriculture, which remains the backbone of the economy, AI agents are helping farmers make informed decisions by providing market insights, hyper-local weather forecasts, and pest control advice.
These tools are improving yields and profitability, especially for smallholder farmers. In healthcare and education, agents are being used to schedule appointments, assist with preliminary diagnoses, and create personalised learning plans, helping to address capacity constraints in these vital sectors.
However, the path to widespread adoption is not without challenges. Infrastructure remains a major hurdle, with inconsistent power supply and internet access limiting the deployment of data-intensive AI systems.
Additionally, many global AI models lack representation of African languages and cultural contexts, which can result in biased or ineffective outputs.
Addressing this requires investment in localised datasets and inclusive model training. The skills gap is another barrier, as the development and management of AI agents demand specialised knowledge.
Expanding AI-focused education and digital literacy is essential.
Cost is also a concern, particularly for smaller businesses, and the absence of robust national AI policies raises ethical and privacy issues.
The rise of AI agents is reshaping the workforce, not merely through automation but by redefining roles.
While routine tasks are at risk of displacement, new opportunities are emerging in areas such as AI system design, machine learning, and human-AI collaboration.
For Zimbabwe, the key lies in adaptation and upskilling — viewing AI agents as co-pilots that handle mundane tasks, allowing people to focus on creativity, oversight, and strategic thinking.
With coordinated support from government and industry, Zimbabwe can position itself as a leader in AI adoption rather than a passive observer.
l Jacqueline Ntaka is the CEO of Mviyo Technologies, a local tech company that provides custom software development, mobile applications and data analytics solutions. She can be contacted on [email protected]
