TANZANIA has already begun using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the judiciary, even as the country prepares to host a transcontinental AI forum late next month in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, the ICT Commission director general, said at a press conference in the city yesterday that AI integration in the judicial system quietly began last year, with Tanzania already applying cutting-edge technologies in core government functions.

“As Tanzania’s judiciary started using AI tools last year, this proves we are not only talking about AI—we are using it,” he stated, outlining issues to be deliberated as the artificial intelligence forum convenes on July 28–29.

It is billed to bring together over 500 delegates from Africa, Europe and elsewhere to explore how AI can drive economic growth and contribute to improved GDP per capita. The event will include participants from tech-forward countries such as Estonia, widely recognised as one of the world’s most digitally advanced nations, he said.

The forum will explore how AI technologies from generative models to language systems can transform sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare and finance, he stated. “AI affects Tanzanian innovators, students, government employees and even farmers,” he asserted, underlining that AI is revolutionising the way we work and live.

The forum will also examine ethical frameworks, data governance and policy alignment in ensuring that AI is used responsibly and inclusively, he further noted. With sessions planned on AI ethics, emerging trends, startup ecosystems and skills development, the forum is intended as an annual hub for knowledge exchange and local tech empowerment, he elaborated.

Profiling the judiciary’s AI use was an unexpected highlight if somewhat limited in the details, while showing that Tanzania is not waiting on global trends as it is already embedding AI in governance formats. Other public institutions, including those in health, have also started implementing responsible AI frameworks, demonstrating a coordinated national strategy, he affirmed.

“AI is not a threat. It is an opportunity,” he said, noting that the government is developing mechanisms to mitigate AI misuse, “but our focus is firmly on leveraging AI for economic transformation.” As global investment in AI surges, African nations are racing to ensure they are not left behind. Tanzania’s early experimentation in public sector AI—combined with hosting a high-level forum—could position the country as a regional leader in ethical and practical AI deployment.

Beyond government applications, the forum will offer local startups and developers the chance to connect with global innovators and explore how Tanzanian-made solutions can plug into the global AI economy.

“This is about more than just technology. It’s about future-ready jobs, smarter services and national competitiveness in a digital world,” he declared. As preparations intensify, the AI forum is shaping up not just as a continental conversation, but as a launching pad for Tanzania’s digital ambitions—already being written into the code of its courtrooms, analysts noted.