MHK questions timing and strategy behind Isle of Man’s new AI Office announcement

Lawrie Hooper says the government’s plan to establish it appears disconnected from existing digital strategy

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper has questioned the government’s decision to create a new National Office for AI Development and Regulation, describing the announcement as unexpected and lacking strategic clarity.

Writing in a blog post following the recent Isle of Man Government Conference, Mr Hooper noted that while the idea of a dedicated AI office “sounds great”, there are unanswered questions about its purpose, structure, cost and how success will be measured.

He said previous government documents - including the Department for Enterprise’s 2024 and 2025 departmental plans, and the Digital Agency’s AI-related objectives - had focused on developing a coherent strategy for artificial intelligence.

None, he added, had referred to creating a separate national office.

Mr Hooper argued that the announcement appeared “entirely out of the blue” and disconnected from three years of ongoing work to establish an Island-wide approach to AI.

He also suggests that the decision may have been made to capitalise on the current popularity of artificial intelligence as a policy topic.

The establishment of the new office was one of several announcements made at the conference, alongside plans to expand apprenticeship schemes, enhance housing support, and refresh the Island’s economic strategy.

Government has not yet provided further detail on how the proposed AI office will operate or be funded.