Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy for her assessment of the (i) opportunities; and (ii) challenges for her Department in relation to the development of Artificial Intelligence.
Minister for the Economy: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of several innovative technologies that has widespread application across the economy, some of which we do not yet fully understand. In both its development and its industrial application, it will create opportunities, benefits, risks and challenges to be managed across the board.
As with other technological developments in recent decades, I expect the adoption of AI will be productivity-enhancing overall but will also create some disruption across labour markets as the nature of jobs change, and the workforce becomes more productive – and is more concentrated in higher productivity activities.
The key role for my department is to encourage the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies such as AI, data analytics, innovative software and robotics across the economy in a way that creates opportunity for all. That is why, as we build innovative and AI-focussed industrial capability through our City and Growth Deals investments, and the recently launched AI Collaboration Centre, we are also supporting individuals to position themselves with the mix of skills and qualifications – academic, vocational and technical – to benefit from the technologies that are shaping economic opportunity in the coming decade and beyond.
The development of a sub-regional economic action plan seeks to provide strategic coherence and a robust framework to place the north in the best position to adopt (the benefits), and effectively manage (the disruptions) associated with AI and other technologies.
ENDS
Your MLA 