With the government recognising the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in national development, President Dr Irfaan Ali joined other Heads of Government for a presentation by innovative AI technology solutions providers from Silicon Valley on Wednesday.
The President is in Barbados for the 48th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government.
The presentations showcased how AI can be utilised to address various challenges, including cancer detection, enhanced and accurate diagnostics, urban planning, housing solutions, and data cloud management.
The President had indicated that Guyana would present its proposals on education, including its Guyana Digital School initiative and the development of an AI strategy plan during the meeting.
On Tuesday, while speaking at the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, President Ali emphasised the transformative role of AI and its significance in national security, defence, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
He noted that without AI integration, Guyana risks falling behind in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
“For any leader today, how are we going to keep up with AI and digitisation? Otherwise, we are going to be left behind—and left behind for a very long time,” he stressed.
“Everything we invest in, everything we do now, must take into consideration that it has to be applicable and workable in a global environment in which digitisation and AI will be the order of the day. If we are not building on that platform, then we are building ourselves out of competition,” he said.
The President also announced a partnership with Northwell, a leading healthcare provider from New York, to position Guyana as a global training hub for nurses, offering internationally recognised certifications.
In collaboration with the European Union and Rwanda, Guyana and Barbados will spearhead the development of a bio-pharma industry, focusing on pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and research and development facilities.
