Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has established a new Artificial Intelligence Advisory Panel to steer Northern Ireland’s approach to the rapidly evolving technology, chairing its inaugural meeting on 16 April 2026. The panel brings together experts from industry, academia and government to coordinate the region’s response to AI’s transformative economic potential and associated risks.
The creation of the panel marks a significant step in implementing the Department for the Economy’s AI Strategic Direction, published in December 2025. It follows the September 2025 publication of the Matrix report on AI and the Future of Work, which warned that Northern Ireland must act decisively to avoid being left behind as automation reshapes employment across all sectors through to 2030.
Panel Mandate and Composition
The Advisory Panel’s initial focus will be supporting the delivery of recommendations from the Matrix report, which identified significant displacement risks in sectors including information technology, professional services, financial insurance and administrative support. The panel will also advise on emerging AI opportunities, technologies and ethical risks.
- Membership: The panel comprises representatives from Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast Metropolitan College, Invest Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and industry leaders including Kainos and the Almac Group. A full membership list is available via the Department for the Economy website.
- Governance: Panel members provide independent advice to the Minister, while supporting officials from the Department’s new AI & Digital Technologies (AIDtech) team attend as advisers.
- Strategic Context: The work aligns with the Minister’s Economic Vision, which prioritises boosting productivity, supporting regional balance, creating “good jobs” and contributing to decarbonisation.
Minister: ‘We Must Navigate Challenges and Opportunities’
Dr Archibald emphasised both the potential and the pitfalls of AI adoption during the panel’s first meeting. She said:
“AI has the potential to transform our economy by helping to address long‑standing productivity challenges, create high‑value jobs and drive innovation across all sectors. I am also acutely aware of the challenges it presents, particularly in relation to skills, ethical governance and the need for appropriate infrastructure.
“By convening this Advisory Panel, we are ensuring we are well placed to seize the opportunities of AI in a responsible and inclusive way.”
She highlighted Northern Ireland’s existing strengths in software, cyber security, data and analytics, alongside world-class universities and the £16.3 million Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), which is already supporting businesses to adopt AI technologies. She added:
“The Advisory Panel and the expertise it brings will be a vital asset as we build on these strengths while navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape.”
Skills Development in Practice
Ahead of the panel meeting, Dr Archibald met with students participating in an Assured Skills Academy in AI and Data at Belfast Metropolitan College, delivered in partnership with EY. The eight-week intensive programme—funded by the Department for the Economy—provides 20 participants with industry-recognised qualifications in AI, cloud and data fundamentals, data visualisation and business analysis.
Participants receive a £180 weekly training allowance, travel expenses and childcare support where eligible. Successful completion guarantees a job interview with EY for technology consulting roles. The Academy represents the practical arm of the Department’s strategy, addressing immediate skills shortages while the Advisory Panel considers longer-term structural challenges.
Gaps and Unanswered Questions
While the panel’s establishment provides high-level strategic oversight, several critical details remain unclear:
- Resources and Timeline: The Department has not specified what budget or staff resources are allocated to the panel, nor set a deadline for when its first recommendations must be delivered.
- Regional Disparity: Recent data from the AICC indicates that 73% of Northern Ireland’s AI firms and 89% of AI employment are currently concentrated in Belfast. The Minister’s Economic Vision emphasises “regional balance,” yet the press release offers no specific mechanisms for ensuring AI opportunities reach Derry, Strabane, or rural areas.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Dr Archibald acknowledged the “need for appropriate infrastructure,” but no commitments regarding digital infrastructure investment or broadband upgrades were detailed.
- Public Sector Readiness: Separate research from Heriot-Watt University published in March 2026 found that Northern Ireland councils lag behind Scottish counterparts in AI adoption due to “funding pressures, limited internal capacity and the need for more stable digital foundations.” The panel’s specific remit regarding public sector transformation remains undefined.
Critical Questions for Stakeholders
As the panel begins its work, several questions arise regarding its practical impact:
- What concrete metrics and deadlines will define the panel’s success, and how will these be reported to the Assembly?
- How will the panel ensure AI economic benefits extend beyond Belfast to achieve the Minister’s regional balance objectives?
- What specific ethical governance frameworks will be recommended to prevent algorithmic bias in public service delivery?
- How will the panel coordinate with the £16.3 million AICC and existing Assured Skills Academies to avoid duplication and ensure cohesive delivery?
- What provisions are being made for workers in high-risk sectors identified by the Matrix report, such as administrative support and financial services, who face significant automation exposure?
What Comes Next?
The Advisory Panel’s establishment signals Stormont’s recognition that AI policy requires coordinated, expert oversight rather than ad-hoc departmental responses. With Northern Ireland’s AI-related revenue already reaching £188 million in 2024—generating £82 million in gross value added—the economic stakes are substantial.
Observers should watch for the panel’s first policy recommendations, expected to address the Matrix report’s warning that “incrementalism is no longer enough” and that the region must choose to be “owners of our future, not bystanders to global change.” The effectiveness of this body will ultimately be judged not by its composition, but by whether it can translate strategic vision into the skills, infrastructure and ethical frameworks necessary for an inclusive AI economy.