Watch: New AI strategy launched with 83 measures aimed at boosting tech sector
Strategy plans to attract foreign tech companies to invest in Malta - PM
The government has launched a new national AI strategy, which is now open for public consultation, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced.
The strategy, drafted by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (mdia), was revealed on Thursday during a cabinet meeting held at MFCC Ta’ Qali as part of the Techxpo.
It outlines 83 measures aimed at promoting training for students and employees, using AI to support art and culture, strengthening regulatory oversight of AI systems, and increasing the amount of data available to support the adoption of AI technologies.
During the cabinet meeting, Chief of Strategy, Policy and Governance at the mdia, Gavril Flores, said the authority held numerous stakeholder meetings with more than 70 individuals representing 30 entities from the private sector, public sector, academia, and civil society.
The government had previously launched a national AI strategy for Malta 2030 in 2019. Abela said that Malta has already implemented 80% of the proposals contained in that strategy.
He added that the new strategy introduces updated measures to keep up with a sector that continues to evolve rapidly and which has the potential to improve people’s quality of life.
Speaking to reporters, Abela said that part of the aim of this strategy is to attract foreign tech companies to invest in Malta, but it also focuses on local companies.
“Tech is certainly one of those sectors we need to drive our economy forward,” Abela said.
The strategy places an emphasis on expanding data availability across the public and private sectors, aiming to unlock wider adoption of AI technologies in Malta.
One measure proposes implementing regulatory support for data brokerage. Data brokerage refers to a company or an individual that specialises in collecting data and selling it.
The measure states that it plans to “develop regulatory and technological support for data intermediation services, and data altruism”.
Data intermediation services refer to neutral third parties that facilitate the sharing of data between those who have it and who want to use it. Data altruism refers to organisations that voluntarily share data for the public good.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Flores said that the mdia will be responsible for the regulation of data brokers.
The cabinet meeting. Photo: Chris Sant FournierOther interesting measures include using AI to improve the understanding of Malta’s cultural heritage, and to facilitate its long-term archiving.
There is also a focus on implementation and encouraging AI training programmes for both students and workers.
People can access the consultation document by clicking here.
A list of some of the measures:
- Monitor job displacement due to AI
- Create language models for the Maltese language
- Malta as a hub to attract activity in AI and art
- AI bootcamps for students
- Hackathons and competitions
- AI courses for workers and educators
- International AI governance and supporting AI diplomacy endeavours
- Regulatory support for AI systems
- Open data for the public sector, encourage the same for the private sector
- Regulatory support for data brokerage
- Grants to promote research and development