How the Government of Bermuda Uses AI
The Government of Bermuda is both a user and a shaper of AI. It has an AI Policy for its own staff, a partnership to put secure AI into public services, workforce AI training, and stated plans for AI agents in financial services. This Laurenceo guide sets out what the Government has done, what it has said, and what is still open.
Government AI Timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| February 2024 | Government outlines AI-powered improvements to public services (Bernews) |
| 28 March 2025 | Minister Diallo Rabain updates the House of Assembly on the Government's AI Policy (Bernews) |
| April 2025 | Cabinet Office warns residents about an AI deepfake video using the Premier's likeness to promote an investment (AI Incident Database) |
| 1 May 2025 | Government adopts CFTE's AI Supercharged programme for workforce training (CFTE) |
| March 2026 | Premier David Burt attends NearCon in San Francisco and says the Government intends to explore legal clarity for AI agents in financial services (Bernews) |
| April 2026 | Department of Workforce Development reintroduces its AI Education Series (Government of Bermuda) |
| May 2026 | Government announces a partnership with NEAR AI to deploy AI-powered public services (NEAR AI, Royal Gazette) |
| June 2026 | Opposition leader Ben Smith says the Government has not prepared for AI's effect on Bermudian jobs (Bernews) |
The Government's AI Policy
The Artificial Intelligence Policy applies to all government employees and consultants who use AI for official purposes, in internal operations and public-facing services. Its main commitments:
- compliance with PIPA and the Public Access to Information Act (PATI);
- a human-in-the-loop approach, so AI decisions that affect people's rights or government services are always reviewed by a person;
- systems that are explainable and auditable;
- phased implementation starting with pilot projects, and periodic review as technology changes.
The NEAR AI Partnership
In May 2026 the Government announced a partnership with NEAR AI to deploy secure AI across public-sector services. It starts with a secure AI assistant for public servants, running on NEAR AI's confidential computing infrastructure, which the company says keeps data inside hardware-enforced enclaves. Premier Burt framed the choice around protecting citizen data. Most published detail comes from the vendor's own announcement; contract value, scope and governance arrangements have not been made public.
AI Agents in Financial Services
At NearCon in March 2026, Premier Burt said the Government intends to explore adding legal clarity around the use of AI agents in financial services. That is a statement of intent: no bill or consultation has been published. It sits alongside the Bermuda Monetary Authority's separate, guidance-based approach described in The BMA's AI Guidance Note, Explained.
Workforce and Skills
The Government's AI Education Series, run by the Department of Workforce Development, offers two online streams of three weekly modules each and an AI Training Certificate for completing a stream. Laurenceo's AI Jobs, Skills and Training in Bermuda guide lists every public and private option.
Digital Transformation
The Government's AI work sits within its Digital Transformation Strategic Framework 2024 to 2027, which aims to improve public access to services and reduce paper-based processes.
Open Questions
- How AI use in government will be inventoried and reported to the public.
- How the human-in-the-loop requirement is audited in practice.
- Whether the AI agents initiative becomes legislation, and who would supervise it.
- How the Government will measure and respond to AI's effect on Bermudian jobs.
Laurenceo's View
A human-in-the-loop policy is a strong start; the test is whether it can be shown to work. Laurenceo recommends that the Government publish a register of its AI use cases, with owners, purposes and oversight arrangements, the same discipline the BMA is asking of regulated firms. Laurenceo's AI policy work and free AI Policy Gap Analyzer are open to public bodies as well as businesses.
Questions and Answers
Does the Government of Bermuda have an AI policy?
Yes. Its Artificial Intelligence Policy governs how government employees and consultants use AI, requiring PIPA and PATI compliance and human review of AI decisions that affect people's rights or services.
What is the NEAR AI partnership with Bermuda?
A partnership announced in May 2026 to deploy secure AI in Bermuda's public services, beginning with an AI assistant for public servants running on NEAR AI's confidential computing infrastructure.
Is Bermuda planning AI legislation?
Not a general AI law. The Premier has said the Government intends to explore legal clarity for AI agents in financial services, but no bill has been published as of November 2026.
Who is the minister responsible for AI in Bermuda?
The Government's AI Policy was presented by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Diallo Rabain, in March 2025. Ministerial portfolios can change, so check gov.bm for the current holder.
Sources
- Government of Bermuda: Artificial Intelligence Policy
- Bernews: Minister Rabain on AI policy (March 2025)
- Bernews: AI-powered improvements to government services (February 2024)
- AI Incident Database: Incident 1011, deepfake of the Premier
- CFTE: Bermuda adopts AI Supercharged programme
- Bernews: Premier Burt attends NearCon (March 2026)
- Government of Bermuda: AI Education Series 2026
- NEAR AI: Government of Bermuda partnership
- Royal Gazette: Government partners with US firm to deploy AI
- Bernews: OBA's Ben Smith on AI, jobs and the economy
- Government of Bermuda: Digital Transformation Strategic Framework
About the Author
Jorai Laurenceo is the Founder and Executive Director of Laurenceo, Bermuda's AI governance think tank, based in Hamilton, Bermuda. He leads Laurenceo's research on AI governance and the Bermuda Monetary Authority's AI guidance, its public consultation response and Laurenceo Intelligence. He studies Technology Management at Ontario Tech University.