Foreword by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

I’m proud to introduce the AI Plan for Wales – a bold and forward-looking Plan that sets out how we will harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence to drive economic growth, enhance public services in both Welsh and English, and equip people across Wales with the skills to thrive in an AI-shaped future.

We live in a time of rapid technological change. AI is no longer a distant concept. It is already reshaping our world - how we live, work, and learn - and its influence will only grow. This presents us with extraordinary opportunities - but also challenges we must navigate with care. The AI Plan for Wales is our roadmap to doing just that here in Wales. It sets out how we will reimagine how we work, how we serve our communities, and how we grow our economy. It provides the framework for how we will work together across Wales to develop our capability and coordinate our activities and investments to collectively achieve our vision.

By embracing AI, we can transform public services, support our private sectors to adapt and thrive, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs that will stand the test of time - responsibly, ethically, and ambitiously.

AI can make it easier for more people to use Cymraeg in everyday life. This supports our ambition to increase the daily use of Welsh. This is one of the 2 main targets of Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers, and one of our 3 priorities for Welsh language technology specifically.

To make this vision a reality, we’ve taken decisive steps:

• Established the Office for AI within Welsh Government to lead by example and build our internal capability.
• Formed the Strategic AI Advisory Group, bringing together experts from industry, academia, and the public sector to strengthen Wales’ AI ecosystem.
• Invested in innovative initiatives that empower public service bodies to adopt AI, transform services, and upskill their workforce.

We’ve worked with the Workforce Partnership Council to develop ethical guidance for AI use in public sector workplaces – a reflection of our unique Welsh approach to social partnership.

In education, I’ve welcomed the Estyn review of generative AI in schools which provided a series of recommendations to ensure AI supports teaching, learning, inclusion, and leadership. Additionally, our Digital Competence Framework is also being updated to reflect the impact of emerging technologies on young people.

Wales is uniquely positioned to lead in AI innovation. Our size and agility make us the perfect testbed for AI innovation - ideal for piloting and scaling new solutions. We’re home to major infrastructure investments, including Vantage Data Centres and Microsoft’s AI data centre in Newport. The AI Growth Zones will facilitate the accelerated build out of our AI data centres, and our close-knit tech community fosters collaboration across sectors.

Public services across Wales are already embracing AI – from faster diagnoses in the NHS to personalised learning in schools and automation in local government. This plan builds on that momentum, focusing on innovation, impact, and reach.

Our delivery will be guided by 4 strategic pillars:

• Economic Growth
• Educating Wales
• Equitable Delivery
• Excellence and Trust

And underpinned by our core principles: Ethical, Empathetic, Enterprising, and Effective. It is this framework which will ensure we deliver our vision in a way which balances prosperity with inclusion and reflects our Welsh values.

AI is a powerful catalyst for change - but it must be used responsibly. We are committed to ensuring AI is used in ways that are transparent, inclusive, and safe. Public trust is essential – and we will earn it through strong partnerships, human oversight, fair work, and a shared commitment to ethical innovation.

Together, we can shape a future where AI works for everyone in Wales.

Our vision

To harness the power of AI responsibly to deliver economic growth, enhance public services in both English and Welsh, and equip people in Wales with the skills to thrive in a world shaped by intelligent technologies whilst ensuring equity for all.