Ministers have set out bold ambitions for the Northern Ireland Executive’s new Office of AI and Digital.
The creation of the new entity was announced in the Programme for Government agreed by Stormont in February, which outlined that the digital unit will “sit alongside the Office of Science and Technology and work with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and other data and digital leaders across the Northern Ireland Civil Service, to advise the executive” on tech services and policy.
The executive’s leader, first minister Michelle O’Neill, underscored the importance of the work to be undertaken by expert digital team
“In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, we need to harness the potential of the technology, particularly when it comes to transforming public services,” she said. “Our lives, society and economy can be reshaped for the better with AI. The creation of the Office of AI and Digital will place us at the forefront of AI innovation as part of an economy that works for everyone.”
The office will support the creation of a new national “AI strategy and action plan” for Northern Ireland, the executive indicated. Meanwhile, chief scientific and technology adviser professor Helen McCarthy will lead work on “developing a roadmap for AI adoption across government departments”. This implementation plan will be created with input from industry, academia – and departments themselves.
The creation of the Office of AI and Digital was rubber-stamped at an event marking the launch of a new AI Collaboration Centre, jointly run by Queen’s University and Ulster University.
Appearing alongside O’Neill at the event, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minster Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Northern Ireland has the talent and the potential to be a world leader in responsible AI. Our AI and Digital Office will play a transformational role in public sector delivery, ensuring we can deliver a modern service that meets the needs of our citizens.
"We are committed to doing everything we can to foster the digital skills required to meet the demands of the future economy. The office will play a key role as we harness advances in technology to deliver real benefits.”