Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:02 pm on 7 July 2021.
Minister, the conversation concerning artificial intelligence has often focused on its impact on the workforce and how it can cost jobs. However, the reality is that over 96 per cent of all manufacturing in Wales comes from small business enterprises, and we, as a country, are very much behind the curve in terms of productivity when compared to competitors across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Innovative technology provides a perfect opportunity to reduce the investment costs that companies need in order to make them competitive, and Wales has some fantastic businesses that are well positioned to be able to do this, such as Nightingale HQ, based in Pontypridd. Can the Minister highlight what proposals the Welsh Government are considering to help small businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their businesses and help them increase their productivity?