Jamaica is ready to open its first Synthetic Intelligence (AI) Lab on the College of Know-how, Jamaica (UTech Ja) in St. Andrew by September 1, marking a serious step within the nation’s digital transformation efforts.
The initiative is a collaboration between UTech Ja and the Amber Group, with plans to onboard 100 information evaluation engineers to ascertain the lab and develop agentic AI—a type of synthetic intelligence able to making autonomous choices and appearing with out human oversight.
Talking on the Nationwide AI Lab Signing Ceremony held on Friday (June 6) on the AC Resort by Marriott in Kingston, Senator the Hon. Ambassador Audrey Marks, Minister with out Portfolio within the Workplace of the Prime Minister, highlighted the significance of AI in Jamaica’s improvement.
“AI is a strong driver of financial transformation, job creation, innovation and world competitiveness,” she mentioned. “With the worldwide AI market anticipated to succeed in almost $3.6 trillion by 2034, Jamaica should place itself as a critical contender. We now have the expertise, infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Ambassador Marks additionally counseled the Amber Group for its position in advancing nationwide improvement. “The investments in AI, the Web of Studying and digital transformation proceed to set the bar for innovation in Jamaica,” she mentioned. “With these collaborations, Jamaica is making ready our individuals for AI alternatives, which have the potential of remodeling lives and bringing monetary freedom and independence to many.”
Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Training, Abilities, Youth and Data, emphasised the transformative potential of AI in training.
“The AI lab and the Jamaica Studying Assistant should not gimmicks or devices. They’re foundational pillars of a brand new period in training,” she mentioned. “That is an period by which entry to prime quality studying will not be decided by earnings stage or proximity to a model title college or innate means to study.”
Dr. Morris Dixon added that lecturers are being skilled in AI literacy and digital educating strategies to assist college students in navigating the brand new academic panorama. “We’ve chosen this future as a result of Jamaica’s younger individuals deserve not simply to be shoppers of worldwide know-how, however to be the creators of it,” she mentioned.
Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, Managing Director of HEART/NSTA Belief, described the lab as a strategic transfer to make sure Jamaica’s prominence within the world digital area. She famous that the power will operate as a nationwide useful resource hub for coaching, analysis, and curriculum improvement in AI.
“We’re establishing school exchanges and laboratory sharing between HEART and UTech, fostering a seamless studying neighborhood,” she mentioned. “Employees from each establishments will profit from superior laboratories and collaborative analysis, establishing a pipeline of expertise steeped in AI and information science.”
UTech Ja President, Dr. Kevin Brown, mentioned the college is well-equipped to host the brand new lab, citing its tutorial infrastructure and analysis capabilities.
“Our college presents the perfect setting to assist this AI lab,” he mentioned. “We’re dedicated to totally integrating the lab in our educating and analysis programmes, guaranteeing our college students and school stay on the forefront of AI innovation.”
Dr. Brown added that the lab would function a hub for builders, researchers, entrepreneurs and college students to collaborate on real-world challenges by way of superior know-how.
