AQW 23406/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/02/2025
Answered On Date: 13/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence Unit in their Department.

Answer:

We are creating an AI Unit and we have tasked the Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser with chairing a Task-and-Finish Group comprising representatives from government departments, industry, and academia to scope out the remit of, and requirements for, an Office of AI and Digital for the region, as set out in the PfG. The first meeting took place in March 2025.

The Task-and-Finish Group will consider a number of proposed workstream pillars, including public sector reform; governance; skills; data and infrastructure. Work will then commence on the development of an AI strategy on the basis of what is identified through the Task-and-Finish Group.

A significant part of the work will look at how we integrate and showcase the expertise we already have, and how we progress the areas that need to be developed.