The Tribune

BY FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A CABINET minister says public trust will be critical to the speed at which The Bahamas’ adopts artificial intelligence (AI) as the Government prepares to develop its national strategy and governance framework focused on privacy, cyber security, transparency and human oversight.

Sebas Bastian, minister of innovation and national development, said the Government’s approach will be people-focused, with public consultation and input from the private sector, academics, civil society and the legal community forming part of the process before wider AI adoption across government.

“I think the public trust is going to come in the form of how responsible we start to implement our AI practices,” said Mr Bastian. He added that the Government recognises that Bahamians have legitimate concerns about artificial intelligence, including privacy, security, employment and accountability.

Mr Bastian said the Government’s approach will be to pursue innovation “with Bahamians, not simply for them”, while beginning with practical applications that address real problems and demonstrate measurable results. He stressed that the Government’s AI strategy is not a replacement for people, but rather a tool to improve the delivery of public services.

“I don't think that would be the first approach that a country would try to take, and put its government in the hands of a machine when you should always have a people-first approach when implementing AI,” said Mr Bastian. It's an enabler. It's not supposed to replace people. It's supposed to support a particular outcome for the greater good of your citizens.”

Mr Bastian said AI could ultimately make government services more efficient by helping to process information and applications more quickly. “When we certainly use AI and release it within our ministry or throughout the Government, it is going to enable government services to be better, to be more efficient, to process things more efficiently, not to replace people and all that. That's not the strategy,” he said.

The minister said the National Artificial Intelligence Committee will bring together relevant expertise within government, supported by a private sector advisory forum drawing perspectives from business, technology, academia, civil society, the legal community and other stakeholders.

Public consultation will also form part of the process, with Mr Bastian saying Bahamians should help shape the principles governing how AI is used. He said the work will inform a national AI strategy and governance framework addressing privacy, cyber security, transparency, responsible use, human oversight, accountability and digital sovereignty.

Mr Bastian said the Government will then determine where legislation is necessary, and what structure would be appropriate for an independent institution capable of providing ongoing oversight of AI. He added that regulation will be particularly important as the Government seeks to address public concerns surrounding the technology.

“I think what you will experience in the public mostly is the fear of AI versus the trust of AI, and I think that's where proper regulation is going to be very, very important,” Mr Bastian said.

He addd that trust cannot simply be created through legislation, but must be built through transparency, inclusion, accountability and demonstrable results.

Mr Bastian described the approach as “measured innovation” - pursuing the opportunities presented by AI while ensuring that the necessary safeguards are established alongside its adoption.

He explained that the priority will be to ensure that AI strengthens the delivery of government services without losing the human element at the centre of government.

Mr Bastian said practical applications that solve real problems, and demonstrate result, will form part of the country’s approach, with human accountability remaining a central principle of AI adoption.