Generative AI has drastically changed how people work and plan and create. In Africa, the conversation is relatively fresh and still feels very much out of reach for many businesses. Many are unsure where to even begin. The good news is, we don’t need to become a tech company to benefit from AI. We only need to find simple, practical ways to use it where it can help us work smarter, move faster or save time.

As an entrepreneur, you’ve already come across the hype. It’s in every podcast, panel or headline. People saying AI will take over everything or transform the world overnight. It’s a little conflicting because on one hand, there’s excitement about the potential to reduce labour costs. On the other, there’s uncertainty about what it might mean for your business, especially if you don’t fully understand how it works or how it might backfire. Ignore all that noise. What actually matters is how it can help you now in real ways. Can it speed up repetitive tasks? Can it help you generate content more easily? Can it improve how you engage with your customers? AI doesn’t need to be complicated. If it helps you do your work more effectively, then it’s already worth paying attention to.

But let’s be clear. Do not make integrating AI into your business about labour costs or cutting people just because you can use a tool now. AI still needs human input to work properly and good people are still your biggest asset. Use it to support your team, not replace it. Let it handle the repetitive tasks, for example, so your people can focus on the things that really need judgment, care and experience. That’s how you find the right balance.