Stop using AI for fake images, news, use it for business – Hichilema
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says artificial intelligence (AI) should not be reduced to a toy for producing fake news and generating fake images, but must instead be used as a serious tool to grow businesses and connect African markets.
Speaking during the Ghana-Zambia Business Dialogue in Lusaka yesterday, President Hichilema said he had no problem with the rapid rise of AI, but warned that the technology must not be turned into a platform for mischief.
“We are able to assess through now AI, quickly you can tuck in there, get to know who wants what you produce, are they able to pay or they’re not able to pay,” President Hichilema said.
“So that’s a better use of AI than generating fake news and images.”
The Head of State said African entrepreneurs should embrace the technology as a bridge to new markets, not as a weapon for online chaos.
Furthermore, Zambia and Ghana had agreed to cooperate under what is called digital Ubuntu, a commitment to share knowledge and strengthen each other’s digital capacities.
The President said technology had already made the world small enough saying that if young people can meet online and end up marrying, then Zambia and Ghana have no excuse failing to find business opportunities for each other.
“I hear now there’s a lot of marriages where young people meet on the internet and they end up marrying each other,” President Hichilema said.
“So there’s no place too far. So if there’s no place too far in that sphere, in that space, there should be no place too far in business, in investment, in trade.”
President John Dramani Mahama, who departed yesterday, was in the country for a three-day state visit alongside First Lady Lordina Mahama.
By George Musonda
Kalemba, February 7, 2026