Ms Grant says we all need to be part of and benefit from AI developments.

Preparing the workforce to change is important, she states, and she welcomes the fact the UK government's industrial strategy included AI.

The Labour MSP again urges the Scottish government to create a Scottish industrial strategy.

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Rhoda Grant insists in order to reap the benefit from AI for all our citizens there must be an industrial strategy put in place.

The Labour MSP cites a constituent's use of AI to increase his independence and ability to live at home despite dementia.

The danger lies where people's skills and training do not keep up when their jobs are replaced by a machine which they don't know how to operate, she says.

The Labour MSP argues we need to look ahead to new technology coming and calls for Scotland's workforce to be ready to embrace the opportunities it presents.

The Tory MSP says there has been a recent decline in maths, science and computing teachers.

Mr Lockhart says we must address under-investment in education and lifelong learning to ensure the skills are available.

The digital skills gap in business must be overcome if we are to take advantage of AI opportunities, he says.

He points to his party's calls for a Scottish institute of technology and e-commerce to support this.

The AI strategy cannot be viewed as a standalone piece of work and we must look towards education, business support and innovation he concludes.

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Dean Lockhart begins saying today's debate is important and he pledges his party's support for the government motion today.

The Scottish Conservative MSP reocognises the significant work of the Data Lab in this area.

The Data Lab is Scotland's Innovation Centre for data and AI, external.

Mr Lockhart cites the benefits of AI in the NHS by enhancing patient options through machine learning.

He calls for the forthcoming strategy to recognise the multi-layered opportunities and challenges AI offers.

Ms Forbes says estimates suggests AI could contribute £16bn to the economy in 2030.

The economic value lies not just in the creation of new products and services but also adoption more broadly to improve existing services, she tells the chamber.

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie questions whether the complexity of data collection means people can give meaningful consent.

The minister highlights discussions around GDPR and data used by tech giants have raised awareness about consent.

Using data ethically is a prerequisite for using data efficiently, she adds.

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Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes says AI offers opportunities and challenges for Scottish society.

Data innovation can benefit the Scottish economy, Ms Forbes elucidates and she points to the commitment to an AI strategy in the programme for government.

However, she adds AI raises several issues that need to be addressed urgently.

The strategy must have Scotland's citizens' interests at its heart says the minister and she goes on to point out that AI is misunderstood and some fears and indeed some hype are unwarranted.

Image source, AI

From DIGIT: , external

Speaking in September at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes, outlined the Scottish Government’s first AI strategy – its ambitious vision for how the nation can unlock the social and economic potential of artificial intelligence.

The development of the strategy will be led by The Data Lab and draws upon key recommendations from the report, ‘Building a World-Leading AI and Data Strategy for an Inclusive Scotland, external‘ – compiled and published earlier this year by ScotlandIS, BT Scotland, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI).

The strategy will explore how the nation can place itself at the forefront of global AI development, which Forbes certainly believes is an area Scotland can excel in; drawing upon its flourishing technology sector and academic institutions.

“Scotland is well-placed to take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us, whether that’s opportunities in data as an enabler of economic growth, or as data as an enabler for public services,” she said.

“We’re not starting with a blank slate. We are starting with a number of exciting initiatives and programmes that are already ongoing which are aimed at improving outcomes for people, providing better experiences and making better use of resources.”

Already, the minister explained, exciting initiatives focused on data and artificial intelligence are underway across Scotland. Funding of £1.5 million has been provided to establish the data for children collaborative with UNICEF, which aims to use data to improve the health and wellbeing of children across Scotland.

• Programme for Scotland: How Technology will Shape Scotland’s Future, external
• Read more here, external

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government will now lead a debate on the opportunities artificial intelligence and data driven technologies offer the Scottish economy and society.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe says the Crown has been experiencing delays in the provision of toxicology reports, the results of which are required before a post-mortem can be completed.

This should not however prevent the release of bodies to families, he adds.

Ms Lennon says it is contractual issues are delaying post-mortem reports and Mr Wolffe agrees to write to the member shortly with more information.

He highlights Glasgow University has intimated it does not wish to continue providing the toxicology service but the contract remains in place until the end of September 2020, giving enough time for an alternative provider to be found.

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Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks whether the government is satisfied with the waiting times for post-mortem reports.

Last November new rules on post-mortem examinations were introduced in Scotland in a bid to prevent families facing long waits to bury their loved ones.

The review was launched after relatives of Shaun Woodburn, who was killed in Edinburgh in the early hours of New Year's Day in 2017, spoke of the "barbaric" treatment they faced while waiting to be allowed to bury him.

• 'Barbaric' post-mortem rule to be reviewed
• Sister in plea to bury murdered brother

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf confirms 113 polices stations have been sold and 17 have had their lease terminated.

Mr Cameron says violent crime has risen for four years in a row and he asks why they are being dismantled in rural communities.

Mr Yousaf suggests the member is asking for the Scottish government and Police Scotland to keep stations that have not been used in years.

"It doesn't make any sense whatsoever to do that."

The minister says crime in Scotland is at its lowest rate in several years.

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Tory MSP Donald Cameron asks the Scottish government how many police stations have been sold or had their lease terminated since Police Scotland was established.

In 2018 we reported that thirty former police stations across Scotland were being put up for sale.

A commercial property specialist has been appointed by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to manage the sale of the buildings, some of which have been empty for years.

The properties were identified following a public consultation exercise by Police Scotland.

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MSPs will now quiz justice ministers and Scotland's law officers.

Here's the full list of questions., external

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Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says Scottish government officials are working with a range of partners considering environmentally-friendly modes of transport for COP26.

Mr Matheson points to Glasgow introducing low emission zones.

The first phase of the LEZ set emission standards which must be met by 20% of buses which pass through the city centre.

It means local bus services must comply with European emissions standards.

COP26 will showcase the efforts of the government to decarbonise Scotland's transport, Mr Matheson says.

Image source, Getty Images

SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks the Scottish government what plans or initiatives are in place to promote environmentally-friendly modes of transport ahead of the 2020 UN Climate Change Summit in Glasgow.

The UK has won the bid to host the 26th Conference of the Parties, known as COP26, following a partnership with Italy.

Up to 30,000 delegates are expected to attend the event at Glasgow's Scottish Events Campus (SEC) at the end of next year.

It is designed to produce an international response to the climate emergency.