Ivan McKee: Public sector data quality limiting new tech potential

Scotland’s public sector’s data maturity landscape is “uneven”, Ivan McKee has said, which is limiting the ability to adopt new technologies.

The public finance minister made the comments during a speech at Holyrood’s Public Sector Data & AI Summit today in Edinburgh.   

McKee emphasised that achieving mature, well-managed, interoperable, and high-quality data across the public sector is crucial to realising the full potential of new technologies, such as AI. He positioned this as a central challenge for the Scottish Government’s Vision for Data.   

He said: “If we’re to unlock the long-term potential, we must confront some of the long-term issues and common challenges – issues that will be familiar to many in the room.   

“Mature, well-managed, interoperable, high-quality data is the cornerstone of AI, and without this, we can't take advantage of the huge opportunities that are available to us right now.  

“The public sector’s data maturity landscape is, it has to be said, uneven. Some organisations are doing well, others not so much, and we have a shared responsibility to address this.”  

McKee added that the Scottish Government’s upcoming new AI strategy will provide clear deliverable actions on AI, adoption, research, innovation, and infrastructure.   

“It will ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that is ethical, transparent, and inclusive, strengthening public services and driving economic growth,” he said.   

“Of course, this is a collective challenge; if we all play our part in raising our collective capabilities, skills and confidence, by working together and sharing that load and moving in the same direction, we can improve lives, strengthen communities, and deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland.”