40 software technician positions have opened up as KPMG introduced their new AI Hub at Garden City.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Manoa Kamikamica says KPMG has committed to embracing new and emerging technology that provide a bridge for their clients which also demonstrates the immense potential of the local talent and the vital role.
He says the recently launched National Development Plan 2024-2029 and Vision 2050 highlights new and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence which has immense potential in reducing existing inequalities and this needs to be implemented correctly and with the appropriate guardrails. Kamikamica says AI-powered data analytics provide deep insights for informed policymaking, fostering sustainable economic growth and resilience.
He says as they embrace AI, it is essential that they do so sustainably and adhere to internationally-recognised best practices to mitigate risks, protect privacy and data and safeguard against unintended consequences, while maximising its positive impact on our societies.
He says some of the key barriers that they need to address are the collection, storage, processing and destruction of data as there is a need for strengthening their data protection and governance frameworks, which the government is working on.
Kamikamica further says this should not stop entities like KPMG from adopting internationally recognised data protection and governance guardrails and his pleased to know that KPMG is progressing towards ISO accreditation for the use of AI and building AI solutions and that KPMG International has a Responsible AI Framework which KPMG Fiji is also adopting.
He says this is critical for any organisation with an artificial intelligence system at the core, the rights of our people offline need to be protected online, and indeed in each stage of an AI system, and this was spotlighted earlier this year, when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which Fiji and more than 120 nations co-sponsored on seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development.
The Deputy Prime Minister says this UN resolution highlighted the crucial role of AI in achieving the global development goals as of June 2024, only 17 percent of SDG’s are on track to be achieved by 2050 and studies show that only 46 percent of businesses are embedding the SDG’s in their operations.
He adds AI has the potential to accelerate this across all the SDG’s and this is also part of the discussions taking place at the UN General Assembly where the President is leading Fiji’s delegation.
