Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has a vision that Scotland’s data is used systematically to improve decision-making, saving time, money and lives.

Data impacts on almost all aspects of human activity and in every sector of the economy, which means that to ignore its potential risks being left behind. Scotland is well-placed to harness the potential of data innovation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to benefit our citizens, economy, public services and society.

That is why the Scottish Government set out its commitment to developing an AI strategy for Scotland in the 2019-2020 Programme for Government. We committed to doing so to help ensure that Scotland maximises the potential economic and social benefits of AI, and sends a strong signal to the world about our ambition.

Work began in autumn 2019 when The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, were tasked with convening the strategy development process. This included a consultation, engagement programme and working groups, and involved hearing from and working with people and organisations across Scotland and beyond.

This open and collaborative approach enabled us to produce a strategy that sets out a vision for Scotland to become a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI. Through the Scottish AI Alliance, we will build partnerships to achieve this practical, tangible and inspiring vision.

“Scotland’s AI Strategy – Trustworthy, Ethical and Inclusive” sets out our vision, the principles that will guide us, and the actions that we will take to develop and strengthen our AI ecosystem over the next five years. It complements work to implement our new Digital Strategy, the recommendations of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review and related initiatives.

The strategy is due to be published on 22 March 2021 and will be available at www.scotlandaistrategy.com/ .