Mzumbe University has urged government employees and public institutions to exercise caution when using Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning against sharing sensitive institutional and national security information with AI platforms.
The warning was issued by the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic, Research and Consultancy, Prof Hawa Tundui Petro, during the closing ceremony of the Improving the Data Analysis Capacity of Experts and Information Systems in Tanzanian Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) for Better Resources Management and Sustainable Economic Growth (DATA2INFO) project in Dodoma.
Prof Tundui said AI offers significant opportunities for improving productivity, learning and decision-making, but its use must be guided by clear rules on the type of information that can be submitted to AI systems.
“There must be limitations on what we give AI and what we should not give AI, especially when it comes to the security of national information,” she said.
She urged government officials and other users to understand the risks associated with entering confidential or sensitive information into AI platforms and to carefully assess the nature of information before sharing it.
Prof Tundui also cautioned against excessive dependence on AI, particularly among students, saying over-reliance on the technology could undermine learning and the development of critical skills.
“AI can help a person learn, but it can also make a person stop learning. If you ask AI to do everything for you, you lose knowledge,” she said.
She said Mzumbe University was continuing to educate the public, particularly young people, on responsible and productive use of AI, with the aim of ensuring that technology supports learning rather than replacing individual effort and critical thinking.
On the DATA2INFO project, Prof Tundui said the initiative had focused on strengthening the capacity of experts to process and analyse data and transform it into useful information and knowledge for better decision-making.
She said data should not simply remain as statistics, but should be analysed and converted into evidence that can help institutions understand challenges and develop appropriate solutions.
“We need to ensure that data is used as evidence and transformed into information and knowledge that will help us make informed decisions,” she said.
Prof Tundui said the conclusion of the project should not mark the end of the initiative, but rather the beginning of applying and expanding the knowledge and skills acquired.
She called for continued collaboration between Mzumbe University and other institutions involved in the project, as well as efforts to identify additional partners who could help extend its impact.
She also urged beneficiaries of the training to share their knowledge with colleagues and become trainers themselves in data processing and analysis.
The Coordinator of Digital Technology Applications in Education at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Alardo Barakabitze, said the completion of DATA2INFO should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen, rather than end, collaboration among participating institutions.
Dr Barakabitze said the project had made an important contribution to strengthening the skills of experts and lecturers, with some participants receiving specialised training in Belgium.
He said the training improved participants’ ability to analyse datasets, generate useful information and communicate research findings more effectively.
The project also equipped participants with skills to apply data and research findings in addressing challenges within their communities, he said.
Dr Barakabitze urged beneficiaries and academic professionals to put the acquired knowledge, skills and training materials into practical use.
He stressed that continued collaboration would be critical to ensuring that the benefits of the project are sustained beyond its formal completion.
“As we conclude this project, we should not see it as the end. Instead, we should continue collaborating, building capacity and using data and research to address challenges in our communities,” he said.
The DATA2INFO initiative therefore leaves institutions with a dual responsibility: to use data more effectively for evidence-based decisions while ensuring that emerging technologies such as AI are adopted responsibly, particularly where sensitive public information is involved.
