Binance: African firms can lead in agentic AI adoption
Binance Director of Government Relations and Strategy for Africa Larry Cooke said the continent’s experience with mobile money and other digital technologies provides a foundation for businesses to adopt AI agents quickly where there are clear use cases.
Nairobi, Kenya - African businesses could take the lead in adopting agentic artificial intelligence (AI), according to Binance. Larry Cooke, Binance's Director of Government Relations and Strategy for Africa, stated that the continent's experience with digital technologies like mobile money gives businesses a solid foundation to quickly adopt AI agents. Cooke emphasized that Africa has a unique opportunity to "lead rather than follow," similar to how mobile money allowed the continent to skip a traditional stage.
Agentic AI refers to AI systems capable of performing tasks or making decisions with minimal human intervention. Industry projections suggest that over 40% of enterprise applications will incorporate task-specific AI agents by the end of 2026, compared to less than 5% in 2025. Surveys indicate that 72% of enterprise leaders are already using or testing AI agents.
South Africa's AI agents market is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than 52% through 2033. Binance has expanded into agentic AI through Agent OS, a developer platform that allows AI applications to connect to various functions through user-defined permissions, ensuring safer deployment of AI-driven strategies.
Cooke stressed the importance of defining an AI agent's role and establishing safeguards before deployment. He noted that markets with 24/7 trading don't have the luxury of a slow pilot phase and that defining clear boundaries from the start is crucial. He highlighted Africa's track record with technologies like mobile money and peer-to-peer digital finance, demonstrating the continent's ability to embrace new technologies when their practical applications are clear.
However, Cooke identified education as a significant barrier to AI agent adoption. The biggest challenge will be ensuring people understand what the agent is doing, whether it's managing money, helping with homework, or automating bookkeeping. If this understanding is achieved, Cooke believes Africa has everything it needs to lead in agentic AI, just as it has with mobile money.
Written by urgent.news from Capital Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
