Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming workplaces, education, business operations and the creative industry, raising questions about the future of employment and whether the technology could eventually threaten humanity’s place in the world. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, workers and employers are discovering new ways to improve productivity. However, concerns over job displacement, data privacy, overdependence on technology and the future of entry-level employment continue to fuel debate about how societies should adapt.
During the 2026 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam raised concerns about declining demand for fresh graduates in occupations highly exposed to AI. He urged governments to address the risk of widening economic inequalities between advanced and developing economies as the technology reshapes employment.
The concerns highlight a growing challenge for education systems, particularly in preparing young people for a labour market where digital competence and the ability to work alongside emerging technologies are becoming increasingly important.While the possibility of AI posing an existential threat to humanity remains a subject of debate, its immediate effects on work, skills and business are already attracting attention.
AI improves productivity but raises data security concerns
Software engineer Antony Maina says AI has become an important tool in his daily work, particularly in coding and programming. Maina says the technology allows him to complete tasks more quickly, reducing the time required for work that might previously have taken several days.
“When I am doing my work, like in coding and programming, I mostly use AI to speed up my tasks. At the end of the day, you find that work which I would have taken an entire week can comfortably be done within a single day,” he explains.
However, Maina warns that reliance on externally hosted AI services raises concerns about cost, privacy and the handling of sensitive company information. He says organisations need clear guidelines on what employees can share with AI platforms, particularly when dealing with confidential business records or customer information.
“If you have an analyst who takes the data and then posts it on ChatGPT which means there is a leakage of your data. Therefore, it’s not really secure when you are giving such kind of information,” he adds.
The concerns point to the need for digital literacy that goes beyond knowing how to use AI tools. Workers also need to understand data protection, confidentiality, cybersecurity and the limitations of AI-generated information.
Maina is also concerned that the technology could reduce demand for some jobs if organisations use AI systems to perform tasks previously handled by several employees. Although he acknowledges that the extent of future job displacement remains uncertain, he argues that governments and technology companies should establish safeguards to encourage responsible use while protecting workers from the effects of rapid technological change.
Small businesses find new opportunities in AI
For small business owners, AI is increasingly becoming a practical tool for improving customer service and expanding access to information. Jacinta Muthoni, who operates a cybercafé in Nyeri town, says she uses AI to correct spelling errors, assist customers with unfamiliar tasks and identify the steps required to complete different services.
“If you don’t know something that a customer needs, you just ask AI on how to go about it rather than lose that customer just because you are ignorant,” she says.
Muthoni cites an instance when a customer needed assistance with documents related to the Kenya National Highways Authority and she used AI to obtain a step-by-step guide.
Despite the benefits, she worries that growing public access to AI could reduce demand for some services traditionally offered by cybercafés. Her experience illustrates the mixed impact of AI on small enterprises: the technology can help businesses serve customers more efficiently, but it can also make some services easier for customers to perform independently.
For entrepreneurs, adapting may involve moving beyond basic document processing to offer specialised digital services, technical assistance and personalised customer support.
AI reshapes digital marketing and product promotion
Ruth Karanja, who operates Geomax Computers, says businesses are increasingly using AI to promote their products and evaluate marketing ideas. She says AI tools can help generate promotional images, prepare social media content and explore ways of presenting products to potential customers. Karanja also uses the technology to assess product appeal before committing resources to stock, helping her make more informed business decisions. However, she believes AI is unlikely to eliminate the need for human involvement across all occupations.
Although the technology can automate particular tasks, people remain important in areas requiring professional judgement, practical intervention and responses to complex situations.
She cites cybersecurity as an example of a field where human expertise remains necessary to investigate and respond to threats. For small businesses, the challenge is therefore not simply whether to adopt AI, but how to combine automation with human expertise to remain competitive.
Musicians face opportunities and creative competition
The creative industry is also experiencing the opportunities and uncertainties associated with AI-generated content. Rose Gacanja, a gospel artist, says she has experimented with AI in music production, including generating alternative versions of her original songs.
She says some AI-generated covers have sounded better to her than the original recordings. However, she is concerned that media outlets may prefer AI-generated versions, potentially affecting the visibility and commercial prospects of original artists. The experience raises questions about ownership, attribution, compensation, and the place of human creativity in an industry where AI can generate music and other content at increasing speed. Nevertheless, Gacanja sees opportunities for artists to use AI-generated versions to promote their original work on platforms such as TikTok and direct listeners towards their music.
Her experience reflects a broader challenge for creatives: learning to use emerging tools without losing control over their work, identity, and earning opportunities. As AI-generated content becomes more common, artists may need stronger digital distribution strategies and a clearer understanding of the rights associated with their original recordings and AI-assisted productions.
Students call for AI education in schools
Students from institutions of higher learning are calling for AI education to be incorporated into formal learning to prepare them for the changing world of work. Peter Musyoki, an ICT student at Nyeri National Polytechnic, says learners need to understand both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology before entering the workforce.
He believes teaching AI in schools would help students adopt it responsibly while understanding its limitations and potential impact on employment. Musyoki says the use of AI-generated music and other creative content has demonstrated how technological change could affect established professions. He supports embracing innovation but cautions against allowing it to undermine human employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Fredrick Mwangangi, a third-year student at Kabarak University, warns that excessive reliance on AI could weaken students’ critical-thinking and independent problem-solving abilities.
Mwangangi says AI can be particularly useful in fields such as information technology, where it can support programming and other technical tasks. However, he cautions that students who depend on it without understanding the underlying concepts may struggle when required to perform independently at work. His concerns highlight the importance of teaching learners how to use AI as a supporting tool rather than a substitute for understanding, practical experience and independent judgement. For technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, this presents an opportunity to integrate AI literacy into occupational training while preserving hands-on practice and competency-based assessment.
Preparing workers for an AI-driven economy
The debate surrounding AI extends beyond whether machines will replace humans. It also concerns how education systems, employers and governments can prepare people to adapt as occupations and workplace requirements evolve. For Kenya, strengthening digital literacy, technical training, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning could help workers respond to changes in demand for skills.
TVET institutions can contribute by equipping trainees with practical competencies in areas such as ICT, cybersecurity, digital marketing, automation and technology-enabled business operations. Training should also emphasise communication, creativity, critical thinking, ethical decision-making and problem-solving—abilities that help workers assess AI outputs and apply technology responsibly.
Employers, meanwhile, need to establish clear data-protection policies, provide opportunities for staff to upgrade their skills and assess how AI adoption affects different categories of workers, particularly fresh graduates seeking their first jobs. For young people, the message is that familiarity with AI alone may not be enough. Combining digital competence with recognised qualifications, practical experience and strong human skills will remain important in navigating a changing labour market.
Ultimately, whether AI becomes a greater opportunity or a source of disruption will depend partly on how societies manage its adoption. Rather than viewing the technology solely as a rival to human labour, individuals and institutions must consider how to harness its benefits while addressing risks to employment, privacy, creativity and independent thinking.
The central question may therefore be less about whether AI will replace humanity and more about whether people can develop the skills, safeguards and institutions needed to ensure the technology serves human interests.