PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has stressed the importance of having a comprehensive discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) with all branches of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary).
During his speech to kick off the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference last week, the Head of State referenced AI’s far-reaching implications and urged for a collaborative approach to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by this rapidly evolving technology.

President Ali’s remarks come at a pivotal moment as countries worldwide grapple with the integration of AI into various sectors, including governance.
Speaking from the nation’s capital, Georgetown, the Guyanese leader highlighted the need for proactive measures to address AI’s impact on all three branches of government.

“All three branches of government, I think must have a conversation on AI and where AI is going because AI would affect the judiciary. AI is already affecting the judiciary internationally. It would affect the Executive, and of course, it will affect the Legislature because you may have AI-generated parliamentary speeches too,” said the Head of State.

President Ali drew attention to the international dimension of AI’s impact, citing instances such as those witnessed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Recently, U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts mentioned an instance where AI hallucinations had led lawyers to cite non-existent cases in court papers.

He stated that because AI content is now widely available and challenging to identify, Guyana needs to take a cue from other countries and develop institutions and frameworks that can effectively control and manage the impact of AI. He emphasised that Guyana’s approach to AI in governance must be informed by lessons from international precedents.
He noted that, “We will be in a trap” if this is not done, adding that AI is capturing the interest of many nations in the Caribbean and beyond in addition to Guyana.

President Ali stated that in order to keep Guyana at the forefront of the appropriate deployment of AI, investments in human resources and technology skills must be made while the country navigates the obstacles presented by AI.
Although several universities have resisted the use of AI, the University of Guyana (UG) has created a draft AI policy. Additionally, if the regulation is approved, UG students may be able to employ AI tools for their academic work.

Furthermore, during a recent engagement with members of the Guyana Bar Association, Judge Winston Anderson of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) stated, among other things, that predictive AI possesses significant potential to expand access to legal services for individuals who have historically been unable to afford them.
He added that all that was needed was a smartphone.