Department for the Economy Board minutes 2025 - 26 March 2025

The agenda item remit is to have an open discussion on AI to include the potential impacts, both positive and negative in DfE and the wider economy.

AI in DfE

• DfE staff have been canvassed to see how AI could be of benefit to them. 70 proposals, 45 of which could be delivered using Microsoft Copilot. Copilot does not have access to Content Manager but this can be worked around to an extent. What can be done with Copilot needs to be showcased – how training is taken forward is critical. The cost of Copilot could be borne by business areas. Overall funding needs to be put in place in next year’s budget. Taking forward Proof of Concept AI use cases with Amazon Web Services for a bespoke Bedrock product in collaboration with Enterprise Digital Development.
• We need good data which needs managed and structured.
• We need to look at what cases to test and prioritise them. Benefits could include the machinery of government process, Apprenticeships returns, consultation response analysis etc. We need to realise efficiencies with no loss of quality.
• We need to build up capacity in DfE and how to recruit appropriate staff was discussed. Secondment is an option. A premium to salary may be necessary. Getting the right people is important and this does not necessarily have to be at degree level.
• In the first year we would need to get staff socialised, with small numbers initially.
• We need to discuss Data Protection Impact Assessments.
• A scoping exercise to consider data management function in DfE was proposed. Board members approved this at the meeting.

AI in the Wider Economy

• What can we do to maximise all opportunities for NI? What do we need to support it – infrastructure/ skills etc.?
• We could start with City Deals so they can continue to develop.
• We need good infrastructure in place. More businesses need to be digitally and green enabled.
• Advanced manufacturing, materials and engineering is the area with most opportunity for DfE to give support/ automate what they are doing with most potential for returns.
• We need to invent things not just adopt them.
• AI needs to be a part of all graduate courses.
• Investment conferences in NI could showcase AI.
• There is an opportunity to use AI in the energy system with 900,000 supply points.
• Universities taking a lower % stake in innovation projects would be beneficial.
• A commercialisation centre would need expertise and could include life & health sciences and manufacturing/engineering. Regional City Deals could be a part of it. We need to market what we have better. We need a tighter handle on what it means to the EU. We need to exploit dual market access.
• AI for startups would involve lower headcounts and quicker progression to success or failure.
• We need sites that can be run by green energy. High performance computers are needed as well as the cloud. UU and QUB are working up a proposal for this with 10Mw initially.
• Locations could be Cromac Square and Causeway Innovation City Deal later. Many small businesses wouldn’t need much infrastructure working in the cloud. Hubs could be rented.
• We need to think about commercialisation for a number of high growth sectors, not just AI.
• There is a skills cycle with a time lag. People with core skill sets could be on rapid training programmes.