ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UPTAKE COMMENDABLE: SIRDC
THE Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) has noted the positive uptake of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) by industry with an estimated 50% of players in the economy having adopted A.I.
SIRDC drives AI uptake in Zimbabwe through national strategy development, industry training, and strategic partnerships.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU)'s 2nd edition of the Research, Innovation, Industrialisation and Entrepreneurship Week (RIIEW), in Bindura, SIRDC Director for Technical Work, Professor Tawanda Mushiri was upbeat about industry's adoption of A.I.
"From the mantra of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson D. Mnagagwa, leaving no one and no place behind, Artificial Intelligence is now being used widely.
"Some are using classical, some are using machine learning, some are using deep learning, some are already using agentic A.I.
"...The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion is already using artificial intelligence for fraud detection and predictions.
"The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanical, Water and Rural Development is also using artificial intelligence in terms of predicting the El Nino and also predicting whatever might come in terms of harvesting, whether positive or negative.
"So, it depends from industry to industry, but basically I can tell you that almost everyone has adapted to artificial intelligence," said Prof. Mushiri.
The internationally recognised A.I guru further highlighted that uptake has been encouraging given that people are talking about artificial intelligence, accepting and understanding its usefulness as a tool for development.
"AI focuses on all pillars of industry and everything we can think of.
"We talk of human resources, manufacturing, the health sector and even Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
"Basically, it's always a positive move (A.I uptake), considering that a lot of people are now in the mood and they have really understood and taken it as a mandatory thing that we have to use A.I," he added.
SIRDC, among other key milestones, is renowned for its active role in crafting Zimbabwe's National A.I Strategy (2026–2030) alongside state leadership to boost digital readiness. The institution has also participated in international forums like the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia conference to secure cross-border AI partnerships.
ZEGU and SIRDC have partnered to commercialize student and faculty innovations.
