The discussion was hosted by Queen’s Centre for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA) and explored how policymakers can navigate the complexities of AI governance while ensuring its responsible integration into public services.

Professor Muiris MacCarthaigh from Queen’s said of the event:
“We are at a crucial moment where AI will soon become a core tool of government, shaping everything from public service skills and competencies to planning for the future use of resources. 

“The voices here will help shape how we integrate AI into public services, ensuring transparency, accountability, and real-world impact. These discussions are vital for anyone involved in AI strategy, governance, or implementation.” 

The event is one of the many ways in which Queen’s CPPA seeks to bridge academia, politics, public administration and local government, by fostering engagement and collaboration that accounts for the distinct needs of each sector.

Chief government scientific and technology advisors reflected on AI’s role in reshaping governance, citizen engagement, and service delivery whilst providing audience insight into crucial topics such as AI ethics and trust, security risks, sovereign AI compute, and workforce transformation.

AI was described as the ‘Fifth Revolution’ with huge focus on how it is people who bridge the gap between revolutionary developments and real-world impact. One speaker noted that “AI does not work without accurate data, and data is nothing without humans,” exemplified in how AI is helping inform decision-making for civil servants across the Northern Ireland Executive from the strategic delivery of ending violence against women and girls, to operations around import management and road-gritting.

Academic experts including Queen’s Professor Iain Styles, and Professor Phil Hanna, discussed AI’s impact on decision-making, and addressing the skills gap in how we prepare the public sector workforce for AI.

Media

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