Minister with responsibility for Technology, Dr. Andrew Wheatley has directed the national Artificial Intelligence Task Force to provide an urgent policy recommendation for Cabinet on the immediate advancement of AI literacy across Government.

The directive follows the Minister’s assessment that AI adoption across ministries, departments and agencies is already underway, and in some instances, ahead of the safeguards needed to govern it responsibly.

Dr. Wheatley said this raises serious concerns, particularly where such use may be taking place in advance of the necessary policy, governance, risk management, accountability, and operational guardrails required for the responsible use of AI in the public sector.

In response, Dr. Wheatley has called for an immediate, Government-led initiative to build AI awareness, competence and responsibility across the public service, framing it as far more than a technical training exercise.

The task force has also been directed to consult with the Jamaica Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority.

He said this will ensure that any proposed AI literacy programme and related policy actions are aligned with the Government’s wider ICT governance and technology oversight responsibilities.