Bermuda needs a clear, co-ordinated, artificial intelligence strategy, especially around education, regulation and workforce development, a Bermudian tech educator said.

Kyla Bolden, of Wiz Learning, spoke about how the island should approach AI after a new report from the United Nations Trade and Development Agency predicted that it would reach $4.8 trillion in market value by 2033. She was concerned about the lack of AI regulation, globally.

United Nations researchers also warned that AI could affect 40 per cent of jobs worldwide and worsen inequality between nations.

“The UN’s report highlights a reality many of us in this space already feel,” Ms Bolden said. “AI is growing fast and most countries, including Bermuda, are not fully prepared for the scale of its impact. But to be fair, neither are most educational institutions or governments.”

In fact, she thought Bermuda was more prepared than most places to handle the AI revolution.

“We have shown early momentum, especially in education,” she said. “Because we are a smaller country, we have the opportunity to move quickly and implement change in ways that could put us ahead.”

Wiz Learning has delivered programming throughout Bermudian schools and has worked with Canadian and American school boards to support future-focused Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics and AI education.

“From my conversations with the Department of Education, it is clear there is a strong effort under way to equip both educators and students,” she said.

“I recently led a workshop at CedarBridge Academy on AI and privacy compliance. The engagement from teachers was incredibly encouraging.”

Last August, the European Union launched some of the world’s first AI regulation, establishing a common regulatory and legal framework. The UK has similar legislation in the works.

Bermudian Taheera Lovell, the cofounder of tech education firm The TLC Group, sees AI regulation coming for Bermuda.

The TLC Group offers courses and workshops on topics such as AI and privacy compliance.

“Accelerated digitisation and the rise of AI call for new industrial policies,” Ms Lovell said. “I have seen an article saying that Bermuda wants to market itself as a digital hub, and another saying the Department of Planning wants to use AI. Bermuda is trying to compete. AI compliance is going to be a part of that, in Bermuda, and around the world.”

She saw a global talent gap in data sciences.

“There is a good local IT cohort in Bermuda,” she said. “It was not like that when I first started in the early Nineties. It took time to get more Bermudians in the tech field and I think the same thing will happen with AI.”

The UN report said it was vital to ensure equitable access to AI enablers such as electricity and the internet but one third of the world’s population lacked these things. Countries with the higher gross domestic product, per capita, were more prepared for AI governance.