ZANZIBAR, Feb. 7 -- AT around 9.30am local time, in the morning, inside a quiet conference hall at Madinat al Bahri Hotel in Zanzibar, senior government officials-Principal Secretaries (PS) sat not to discuss budgets or policies, but to confront a different kind of future, one shaped by algorithms, data, and machines that can learn.

For many of them, Artificial Intelligence (AI) still feels abstract, intimidating, even risky. But as the session unfolded, one message became unmistakably clear: the future of governance will not wait for those who hesitate.

That was the warning delivered by Zanzibar government Chief Secretary Ambassador Engineer Zena Ahmedi Said, who officiated the meeting, urging government executives — including Pe...