Allexer Namundjembo
Namibia must move faster to prepare for artificial intelligence as the technology reshapes economies and public services, speakers said at a public lecture in Windhoek.
AI specialist Chandan Chauhan addressed the event hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Hans Seidel Foundation.
He said AI has moved beyond simple tools to systems that can reason and perform tasks.
It has evolved from generating content to handling text, images and video and is now entering a phase where systems can plan and act on their own.
“AI is moving from answering questions to doing work,” he said.
Chauhan said investment in AI infrastructure is rising from about $133 billion in 2023 to a projected $610 billion by 2026, with global spending expected to exceed $2 trillion by 2027.
He said companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta are leading developments in embedding AI across business systems.
Chauhan said AI is changing how people work. Some entry-level jobs may be affected, but productivity is expected to increase as tasks are automated.
“The future of work will be defined by skills and adaptation,” he said.
He said Africa could gain from AI, with the technology expected to add up to $1 trillion to the economy and create between 35 and 40 million digital jobs by 2035.
Chauhan said Namibia has the potential to benefit due to its stability and energy capacity but must act quickly.
“This is not just a technology race it is a timing advantage. Early movers will define the standards,” he said.
He said the country should invest in computing infrastructure, skills development and practical use of AI in sectors such as health, education and agriculture.
He also called for strong governance, including data protection and regulation.
EAN chairperson Jason Kasuto said Namibia must invest in skills to remain competitive.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented speed of innovation,” he said. “For Namibia, the question is whether we will shape this transformation or be left behind.”
He said AI can support growth in sectors such as agriculture, mining, energy and healthcare.
The lecture also highlighted the shift to systems that can operate continuously and manage tasks across industries.
The event called for cooperation among government, industry and academia to prepare the workforce and support adoption.
Information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus has previously said digital transformation and AI are central to development.
She warned about risks such as disinformation and called for responsible use of the technology.
