Trade union urges caution on Stormont plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence to help answer Assembly questions
Northern Ireland’s main public sector union has urged caution over Stormont plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help with answering questions posed to ministers by MLAs.
Nipsa says it is supports the use of the technology, but has raised concerns about jobs and says it must be subject to “robust safeguards”.
Yesterday, the News Letter revealed that two Stormont departments are in early stage talks with AI firms about how the technology could be used to help answer questions in the assembly.
The cost of queries submitted by MLAs has been a matter of controversy recently, with the UUP leader Jon Burrows quizzed by the BBC about the cost of 245 questions he has asked since he took up his seat on the Stormont benches.
The corporation cited a claim by Naomi Long that they can cost £700 each – but a recent Stormont report said there is “scarce information” on the cost.
The UUP-run health department says “to support digital modernisation” it is currently working with an AI firm – but the work “is at an early stage, and no decisions have been made”.
Sinn Fein’s economy ministry says it is also working with an AI company on AQWs, “as the public sector seeks to keep pace with emerging technologies”.
Responding to the news, Ryan Wilson, Nipsa’s assistant secretary told the News Letter: “Nipsa recognises that AI tools are increasingly being explored within the civil service, and our policy is to support their use only where they genuinely complement our members and are subject to robust safeguards.
“This should not be taken as endorsement of any particular project or of data-sharing arrangements. AI technologies are being developed by commercial companies whose interests are not always aligned with protecting jobs, which is why Nipsa will be monitoring developments closely and will expect full consultation and robust safeguards for our members at every stage.”
Stormont officials have given assurances that all responses to assembly questions would still be subject to normal approval process with full oversight by elected ministers, and there would be no changes to the approval process.