Tanzania and Zanzibar are preparing the rules and ambitions for artificial intelligence. Organisations do not need to wait to start using AI safely and usefully.
National guidelines are being finalised
In September 2025 the government said it was in the final stages of preparing a national guideline for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. At the 2026 WSIS Forum, Tanzania's e-Government Authority described AI guidelines for public institutions and a National ICT Act as being in the final stages of approval, and said a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is being developed.
Until these documents are published, existing laws still apply, especially the Personal Data Protection Act.
Plays from YouTube when you press play.
Zanzibar wants to be an AI hub
Zanzibar hosted an international Technology and Artificial Intelligence Expo in September 2026. The Ministry of Communications, Information Technology and Innovation said it wants to attract global technology companies and investment in AI, fintech, agritech and smart tourism, with policies and laws that keep pace with technology. Zanzibar's Digital Transformation Policy was launched at the expo, which President Dr Hussein Mwinyi opened.
Plays from YouTube when you press play.
Where AI helps today
- Drafting and summarising documents, reports and minutes.
- Answering common customer questions in English and Kiswahili, with a human taking over complex cases.
- Extracting data from invoices, forms and receipts.
- Searching internal documents and policies.
- Spotting patterns in sales, stock or maintenance data.
Our article on AI starting points goes deeper.
Put a number on it with our automation savings calculator.
Use AI responsibly
- Decide which data may be shared with AI tools, and never paste sensitive personal data into public tools.
- Check where an AI service stores data. Transfers outside Tanzania have rules under the PDPA.
- Keep a person responsible for important decisions.
- Check AI output before it reaches customers.
- Train staff on what is allowed.
How Extrion can help
Extrion helps organisations identify useful AI opportunities, assess the data and security risks, and build AI into real workflows. See our applied AI service or talk to us.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tanzania have an AI law?
Not a dedicated one yet. The government reported national AI guidelines in their final stages, and a National AI Strategy is being developed. Existing laws, including the Personal Data Protection Act, already apply to AI use.
Can businesses use AI with customer data?
Only with care. Personal data is protected by the PDPA, including rules on transfers outside Tanzania, so check where an AI tool processes and stores data.
Still stuck, or want more detail?
Ask for clarification, tell us a problem this did not solve, or suggest a topic. An engineer reads every message, and we use them to improve the Knowledge Center.
Last updated
Talk to Extrion about this topic
Book a consultation and we will help you map a practical next step.
