Industry State Minister Says AI Will Empower Not Replace Local Workers

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Delano Seiveright, says that artificial intelligence (AI) is intended to elevate and not replace humans in the local workforce.

“Our people remain central and AI should be used to elevate our workforce, not marginalise it; it is important that we put that on record,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of the Portmore Incubator and Linkages Forum on Wednesday (March 4) at the Portmore Informatics Park, he noted that the technology, while excelling at routine tasks, struggles with creativity and complex judgement.

“AI handles more routine work… the remaining work tends to be more complex, higher judgment and more relationship driven,” he pointed out.

“AI is not a substitute for operational excellence… and not a replacement for leadership training and governance. So, this is an important message to Jamaica,” he stressed.

Mr. Seiveright noted that there are opportunities for countries like Jamaica as companies around the world expand the access of workers to AI tools while still developing governance structures to manage their use.

“AI adoption is accelerating but full integration, workflow redesign and governance capabilities are not evenly mature across organisations. That gap creates opportunities for countries and firms that can combine AI-enabled operations, strong people capability and disciplined governance. Jamaica can be one of those places if we position correctly, and I think we are positioning correctly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Seiveright said that Jamaica must remain competitive in the global information services industry as AI continues to reshape business.

“We must compete on productivity, quality, trust, and not price alone. If the market is automating routine interactions, then Jamaica must keep moving towards higher-value segments.

“It also means we must accelerate skills development. Jamaica has strengths that matter and we must use them fully. Our advantage includes, of course, the English language… and our communication capabilities are quite strong,” he pointed out.

The Portmore Incubator and Linkages Forum brought together industry stakeholders to strengthen pathways for entrepreneurship, innovation and growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Developed through collaboration involving the Port Authority of Jamaica, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPO), Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ), and with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Portmore Informatics Park provides a plug-and-play technologically enabled space to accelerate start-ups and job creation.

Mr. Seiveright said that the facility demonstrates the value of partnerships in unlocking opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

“This is exactly the kind of partnership architecture we need to expand capacity and improve competitiveness, and we must prioritise workforce upskilling at scale. If the work shifts upwards in complexity, then our people must be trained for higher-value roles, and Jamaica must become known not only for capacity but for capability,” he said.