Kate Nicholl MLA: Northern Ireland can harness the potential of AI
Our accessibility, size, and skills base perfectly position us to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). However, success here relies on political leadership and collaborative working, writes Alliance MLA for South Belfast, Kate Nicholl.
Whether it is giving us personalised TV recommendations, providing real-time traffic information, or curating social media feeds, AI is already playing an ever-growing role in our everyday lives. More fundamentally, it is also impacting on the global economy and reshaping international relations.
My interest in AI was piqued when I noticed every conference I attended had a panel on it. Everyone was interested, but the discussions seemed to focus on blue sky thinking and rarely got to the core questions: what does this this technology actually mean for workers, for business, for productivity, for public services?
AI should be regarded as a technology that enhances and complements human capabilities, rather than replacing them entirely – so how do we harness that?
Given the scale and pace of change it has ushered in, AI has fast become one of the most pressing challenges facing governments across the world. If we leave the future of AI solely to the likes of Musk and Zuckerberg, the consequences could be horrifying and irreversible. Consider the dangers around deepfakes, interference in democratic processes, misinformation, and the environmental impact of data centres.
It is crucial governments engage with urgency around the future direction of AI development, and that is why the Programme for Government 2024-2027 commitment to establish a new ‘Office of AI and Digital’ is welcome.
The evidence shows utilising AI technologies can have a transformative effect on public services and deliver better value for taxpayers. When we think of our most intractable policy problems – from improving public health outcomes, tackling the climate crisis, and delivering more efficient public services – the possibility of AI aiding government in solving some of these big challenges must be explored.
However, this will not happen automatically. It requires government to both incentivise and encourage a culture of innovation and a determination to drive forward productivity, while also setting out clear rules of engagement to ensure it is used ethically and in line with highest standards of data protection.
AI can reshape the nature of our work, but it cannot be about replacing humans. It must be the case that AI systems have humans involved in decision-making, including oversight, judgement, and in the provision of ethical guidance. Allowing AI to take on admin tasks that will free us all up to do more of what we do best: thinking creatively, strategic oversight, and building relationships.
In Northern Ireland, AI is already being deployed in public services, including the trialling of AI-enabled scanning and fracture detection in hospitals, the piloting of AI assistants for teachers and school leaders, and exploratory work to determine how AI might be utilised across our civil service. As chair of the APG on Public Policy and Data, I am acutely aware of the opportunities, but rather than piecemeal work, we need a clear strategic direction. The work being taken forward by Helen McCarthy, Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser providing advice to the Executive, is extremely important in that regard.
Along with McCarthy, I have met with local and international businesses including Microsoft and Kainos, academics from Queen’s, and David Crozier from the AICC, amongst others, who have raised issues ranging from AI literacy in schools and the public sector, AI skills development (including reskilling and upskilling), supporting small businesses in implementing AI tools to improve productivity, and implementing ethical frameworks for engagement.
For my constituents in south Belfast, AI is already impacting on public services in the here and now. If governments fail to engage with AI with sufficient urgency, we will be left behind while the technology advances beyond our reach. Northern Ireland must urgently develop an approach that can harness the potential of AI for the common good.
The good news is, in my engagement on AI, it has become increasingly clear by working together, the possibilities are endless.
