Elon Musk files lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming a focus on profit over its original commitment to developing safe, beneficial artificial intelligence.

Insights At a Glance:

AI adoption in US local governments has tripled in 5 years, now at 45%, but cybersecurity and cost pressures still hold back full modernization.
US public sector wants more private-sector collaboration—just like African governments.
Kenya’s own AI push, from classroom training to AI-powered phones, mirrors global trends. But the path forward lies in shared innovation, not isolated ambition.

In just five years, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in US state and local agencies has soared from 13% to 45%, according to a new survey by EY US. Generative AI tools—like the kind powering ChatGPT and Google Gemini—have also seen an explosive rise from 12% to 39%. But here’s the kicker: despite the progress, the real story isn’t just about fancy tech. It’s about the challenges, the trade-offs, and the roadblocks that many African governments—and especially Kenya—know all too well.

EY’s State and Local Government Tech Modernization Survey polled 300 US government IT leaders, and the findings paint a complex picture: while agencies are keen on modernization and innovation, their biggest priorities right now are cutting costs (56%) and improving cybersecurity (54%). Modernizing legacy systems? That’s still on the wishlist—but only 47% see it as a top priority this year.

Sound familiar?

From counties still clinging to manual filing systems to national initiatives battling red tape and resource constraints, Kenya—and much of Africa—is no stranger to this balancing act. The idea of leaping forward with AI while managing tight budgets and basic infrastructure needs is a delicate, but very real, juggling act.

AI is Booming but Caution Lingers

The US government’s rising enthusiasm for AI also comes with serious concerns. The EY survey reveals that:

82% worry AI could make cyberattacks more sophisticated
78% are anxious about the lack of clear AI regulations

That blend of excitement and unease is not unique to America. Here in Kenya, as AI fever sweeps through classrooms, smartphones, and startups, leaders are grappling with similar questions: What rules should guide AI use? How do we train people fast enough? Who’s making sure the tech actually helps citizens and not just data collectors?

It’s no coincidence that during Africa AI Week, Qhala announced a plan to train over 700 teachers in AI literacy across Kenya and other African countries. The goal? Prepare young minds to understand and use AI responsibly. And it’s not just schools—smartphone makers are already on it. Itel’s City 100 recently launched with built-in DeepSeek AI for text generation and smart document scanning.

Collaboration is Crucial—But Still Complicated

A particularly striking finding in the EY report is how much US agencies want to work with the private sector to drive innovation. Nearly 9 in 10 leaders believe these partnerships can improve public services. In fact, 61% fear becoming obsolete if they don’t start working more closely with tech companies.

But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Barriers like:

Cybersecurity concerns (39%)
Lack of skilled workers (38%)
Funding gaps (35%)
are keeping many agencies from fully embracing private-sector innovation.

Again, these are the exact friction points many Kenyan and African innovators face when trying to pitch solutions to governments. Even with a solid product, getting through procurement hurdles—or finding public officials who understand the tech—can be like pulling teeth.

Shared Struggles, Shared Solutions

Whether it’s a public health agency in Ohio or a county office in Uasin Gishu, the goals are often the same: serve citizens better, faster, and more efficiently. But whether in the US or Kenya, success depends on people, policy, and partnership—not just shiny new tech.

With South Africa leading Africa in AI adoption in the workplace and China topping global rankings, it’s clear that this global race isn’t just about who has the tools, but who can use them wisely.

What do you think—can Kenya leapfrog past the US in public sector AI? Join the conversation in the comments.