Isle of Man to launch AI office amid push for digital transformation

The Manx government has announced plans to establish a new office dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), with a dual mission of driving innovation and managing potential risks.

The initiative, unveiled at the annual Government Conference, is part of a wider strategy to digitise public services and deliver £50 million in savings over the next five years. Chief Minister Alfred Cannan described AI as a force that would “significantly challenge the status quo,” warning that those unprepared to adapt would “struggle to remain competitive.”

The office is expected to be operational before the end of the year and will serve as a hub for both government and private sector collaboration. “Other nations are starting to move forward and we need to catch up,” Cannan said in his opening address at the Comis Hotel in Santon. He stressed the importance of moving quickly, with public and private partners working “in lockstep” to coordinate the island’s response to the AI revolution.

Key priorities will include developing skills and training to ensure the workforce can adapt to AI-driven changes. The government also expects growing calls for regulation, which Cannan noted could be turned into an economic opportunity for the island. The EU’s recent Artificial Intelligence Act was cited as a signal of where international policy may be heading, and the Isle of Man “will inevitably have to consider its position,” he added. Alongside AI, the conference is addressing other pressing issues, including balancing healthcare needs with cost and capacity, migration management, and ambitions for national air and sea connectivity.

The creation of the AI office marks a significant step in the island’s efforts to modernize its economy and services, positioning the Isle of Man to benefit from the opportunities—and navigate the challenges—of the fast-advancing technology.