Meet Michael Boniface

Leadership Circle Spotlight

In the Leadership Circle Spotlight series, we are finding out more about the Scottish AI Alliance Leadership Circle. Below you can find an interview with Michael Boniface, Digital & Entrepreneurship Director at Opportunity North East Limited, and learn about his involvement with AI and Scotland’s AI Strategy.

Why did you want to get involved with Scotland's AI Strategy?  

I am committed to supporting the Scottish Technology Ecosystem and have a keen interest in AI. I wanted to be able to contribute to shaping a nationwide strategy that would have direct benefits to companies working with emerging technologies and the people they ultimately impact.

What does Trustworthy, Ethical, and Inclusive AI look like to you?  

It means being transparent about the aims, ambitions, and goals of a given piece of technology and open acceptance and discussion around the potential dangers.

How is Scotland in a unique position with regard to AI? 

Scotland has a vibrant technology ecosystem underpinned by world-class educational institutions. The community is tight-knit with exceptional levels of support available at all levels of the company lifecycle.

What advice do you have for young people looking to get into the AI field? 

Get involved in the wider technology community, take advantage of the support offered and learn from others.

Do you have a favourite newspaper or blog where you get your tech news? 

I’ve become a recent convert to ‘Sifted’ and use it as my main source of start-up news from across Europe.

Who (or what) is your favourite fictional AI character from a book or movie? 

Wintermute from the William Gibson novel Neuromancer (although that’s more about the book than the character!).

What do you envision to be the biggest challenges for Scotland's AI Strategy going forward?  

Balancing regulation and innovation. Too much overhead on start-ups will reduce the attractiveness of setting up in Scotland, not enough can detract from the ambition of AI developed here being ethical and inclusive.

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