DIGITAL ISLE OF MAN LEADING EARLY WORK TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL AI OFFICE

Digital Isle of Man is leading initial scoping work to establish the new National Office for AI Development and Regulation.

As an Executive Agency of the Department for Enterprise, we have played a leading role in preparing the Island’s community and economy for the opportunities presented by AI through our Activate AI programme. This has included training and upskilling the community, building a network of AI specialists, and supporting local businesses to adopt AI technologies.

We have also strengthened the Island’s international partnerships, including advancing a Memorandum of Understanding with AI Singapore to share insight and expertise.

The initial scoping work will include developing proposals for how Government can best coordinate AI activity, manage risks, and set direction. We are committed to working alongside Government and industry to shape an approach to AI that reflects the Island’s ambitions and serves its long-term needs.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK commented:

“Artificial intelligence represents one of the most significant technological shifts of our time. It offers enormous potential to grow our economy, improve public services and enhance the quality of life for our community, but there are concerns that must be considered, and where it is deployed, it should be responsibly and with positive purpose.

Progressing the project to establish a National AI Office now ensures that the Isle of Man will have the right structures in place to navigate this change with confidence, working together across our business community, our society and our public service. Digital Isle of Man’s experience and expertise provide a strong foundation, and they are well placed to lead the initial phase to help define the Office’s remit, structure and considerations for resourcing, so it is built to meet the Island’s long-term needs.”

The National AI Office will build upon earlier commitments to a National AI Strategy, which will now be integrated into the Office’s remit to ensure that future policy, strategy and governance are aligned with national priorities around assurance and governance.

Having already held a number of engagements on this topic, Digital Isle of Man will continue to act as the liaison between the private sector and Government during this design phase — gathering ideas and exploring options so that the Office can be operational in some form by January 2026.

The Chief Minister added:

“I believe this will be a positive and proactive step for our Island’s future. The National AI Office will guide our approach, ensuring that as an Island, we remain adaptable, innovative and internationally competitive in a fast-changing world, whilst also coordinating our thinking in this space so as to support our societal and government priorities.”