From the earliest mechanical marvels to the digital revolutions of the 20th century, humanity has always been captivated by its own ingenuity. Watches, automobiles, airplanes, and computers once stood as symbols of progress.
Today, artificial intelligence, particularly Agentic AI, represents a new frontier, one that challenges not just our technological boundaries but our ethical, strategic, and existential ones.
At the center of this unfolding narrative is Medinatu Onyoza Musa, a Birmingham City University alumna and a distinguished member of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN).
Medinatu is not just a cybersecurity expert; she is a national thought leader whose voice is shaping how Africa and the world confront the risks and responsibilities of autonomous systems.
Agentic AI is unlike any previous form of artificial intelligence. It doesn’t wait for human prompts or follow static rules.
It perceives, analyzes, decides, and acts; all independently. This autonomy is what makes it revolutionary, but also what makes it deeply concerning.
Medinatu has been one of the few experts to consistently raise the alarm about the unchecked deployment of Agentic AI, especially in cyber-physical environments where human lives, national security, and societal stability are at stake.
Her analysis is grounded in both technical depth and strategic foresight. She breaks down Agentic AI into its core components: the Data Agent, which collects information from sensors, databases, and APIs; the Analysis Agent, which interprets that data; and the Decision Agent, which acts on it, often without any human oversight.
In civilian applications, this architecture powers autonomous vehicles, delivery bots, smart manufacturing systems, and healthcare robotics.
It optimizes routes, detects faults, reduces downtime, and enhances productivity. In cybersecurity, Agentic AI is already being used to detect threats, deploy countermeasures, and make real-time defense decisions.
But Medinatu’s concern lies in its militarization. She has tracked how countries like the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and France are embedding Agentic AI into their defense strategies.
Shield AI’s MQ-35 V-BAT drone, for example, can autonomously collect data and execute tactical decisions.
China’s CETC unmanned ground systems exhibit Agentic AI characteristics, capable of mass drone deployment and autonomous precision strikes.
Russia’s UAVs are designed for stealth combat, tactical intelligence, and autonomous target engagement. Japan’s Loyal Wingman UAV and AI-assisted command systems are reshaping maritime and aerial defense. France’s ARTEMIS.IA program, backed by €100 million annually, is building AI-driven military decision support systems.
These developments are not theoretical. They represent a shift in global military doctrine, from human-led operations to machine-speed warfare.
Medinatu warns that this shift introduces unprecedented risks: misinterpretation of intent, unplanned escalation, and the erosion of human control in high-stakes engagements.
She points to the estimated $10 billion spent by the U.S. Department of Defense on AI-enhanced capabilities over the past five years, and the growing investments by China, Russia, and France.
The race to develop superior autonomous weapons and surveillance systems is not just technological, it’s geopolitical.
Beyond the battlefield, Medinatu is equally concerned about the societal implications of Agentic AI. As these systems become embedded in mobile devices, smart infrastructure, and online platforms, they introduce a new paradigm of passive surveillance. People’s movements, communications, and behaviours are increasingly monitored, not by humans, but by machines that learn, adapt, and act in real time.
Medinatu challenges us to ask: What happens when an autonomous system misfires? Who is accountable when a machine makes a fatal decision? How do we protect human agency in a world increasingly governed by algorithms?
Her expertise is not confined to critique. Medinatu is actively shaping policy conversations, advising institutions, and educating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
She understands that cybersecurity today is not just about firewalls and passwords, it’s about governance, ethics, and strategic resilience.
She advocates for robust oversight frameworks, technical safeguards, and international norms to ensure that Agentic AI serves humanity rather than undermines it.
Medinatu also highlights the dual-use nature of Agentic AI. In healthcare, it powers robotic surgery and autonomous diagnostics. In finance, it drives fraud detection and intelligent advisory systems. In energy, it manages smart grids and predictive maintenance. In retail and logistics, it forecasts demand and automates inventory. These benefits are real, but they must be balanced against the risks of autonomy without accountability.
What sets Medinatu apart is her ability to connect the dots, from technical architecture to geopolitical strategy, from operational efficiency to ethical oversight.
She doesn’t just describe what Agentic AI can do; she interrogates what it should do, and under what conditions.
Her voice is a reminder that innovation must be guided by responsibility, and that cybersecurity is the foundation upon which safe, ethical AI must be built.
In a world racing toward automation, Medinatu Onyoza Musa stands as a sentinel, urging caution, demanding transparency, and championing human-centered governance. Her work is not just relevant; it is essential.
As Agentic AI continues to evolve, Medinatu’s leadership ensures that Africa is not just a consumer of global technology trends, but a contributor to the ethical and strategic frameworks that will define the future.
