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AI in Northern Ireland

calender
February 11, 2026

Northern Ireland is moving from talk to action. Stormont is standing up an Office of AI and Digital, departments are publishing direction, and MLAs have formed an All‑Party Group on Artificial Intelligence. For businesses and public services, the message is clear: align to policy, build capability, and prepare to implement.

What Stormont has done recently

  • Created an Office of AI and Digital
    The Executive launched a dedicated office to modernise public services, with a roadmap for AI adoption across departments led by the Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser.
  • Published AI Strategic Direction
    The Department for the Economy (DfE) set out initial focus on investment, ethics, and regulation, with cross‑cutting themes of people, business, and infrastructure. It references an AI Advisory Panel, metrics, and fast‑track actions aligned to sectoral needs.
  • Formed an All‑Party Group on AI
    MLAs have established an APG to connect legislators with industry and academia on responsible adoption, chaired by Kate Nicholl MLA.
  • Raised AI in the Chamber
    Budget and policy questions in plenary have pressed the pace and funding of AI work.

Why this matters for NI

  • A coordinated plan attracts investment
    Policy clarity on infrastructure, standards, and ethics lowers risk for investors and buyers.
  • Public sector delivery can improve
    AI offers triage, case management automation, and better citizen communication if integrated well.
  • Skills and inclusion are central
    DfE’s focus on education pathways and lifelong learning recognises the need to move quickly on capability without leaving communities behind.

The opportunity by sector

  • Advanced manufacturing and data infrastructure
    With strengths in photonics, semiconductors, and data storage, NI can link AI demand to real economy jobs.
  • Health and life sciences
    Collaborations between Trusts and universities are already testing AI for pathways and diagnostics.
  • Financial and professional services
    Belfast’s fintech and regtech ecosystems can help shape responsible AI adoption for regulated industries.
  • Public services
    Contact centres, document workflows, and eligibility assessments are ripe for safe automation, subject to auditability and human oversight.

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What good looks like for leaders

  • Map to the DfE strands
    Organise initiatives under investment, ethics, and regulation so they align to government direction.
  • Join the APG conversations
    Use the forum to share evidence from pilots and surface blockers early.
  • Build a skills ladder
    Short courses for frontline staff, deeper training for AI champions, and partnerships with FE/HE for accredited programmes.
  • Invest with purpose
    Prioritise use cases that free up scarce public service capacity or export NI strengths to global markets. Measure outcomes, not hype.
  • Respect citizens
    Build opt‑outs where clinically or operationally safe, publish model cards and DPIAs, and monitor for bias.

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A 90‑day plan for an NI organisation

  1. Select two use cases aligned to departmental or sector priorities.
  2. Stand up a cross‑functional squad that includes delivery, data, legal, and a user representative.
  3. Document data flows and risks in line with UK data protection and sector guidance.
  4. Pilot in weeks, not months with clear success and stop criteria.
  5. Report outcomes back into APG sessions or departmental working groups.
  6. Scale or stop based on evidence, not headlines.

Conclusion

Stormont is moving. If you are an NI leader, align to the Office of AI and Digital, use the DfE direction to focus investment, and participate in the APG so policy and practice evolve together. The prize is practical: better services, stronger firms, and high‑quality jobs across the region.

Citations

  1. Executive Office announcement of the Office of AI and Digital and roadmap leadership, June 2025. The Executive Office
  2. DfE AI Strategic Direction, December 2025, including AI Advisory Panel and focus areas. Department for the Economy
  3. NI Assembly All‑Party Group on Artificial Intelligence, formation and membership, October 2025. aims.niassembly.gov.uk+1
  4. Assembly Business Diary listing APG on AI meeting in the Long Gallery, December 9, 2025. aims.niassembly.gov.uk
  5. TheyWorkForYou record of AI raised in Budget questions, November 24, 2025. TheyWorkForYou
  6. QUB release on NI’s AI economic activity and headcount, September 2025.

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