Finance Minister John O'Dowd appeared to stop short of offering a "guarantee" the roll-out of AI in the Northern Ireland civil service won't lead to job losses.
This comes after Belfast Live reported last month how the civil service is rolling out several pilot programmes for the use of the technology.
And in an update on the use of AI in the Assembly this week, the Minister was asked directly to outline the "safeguards and guarantees" he would put in place to ensure AI will be used to support workers and "not replace them".
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Mr O'Dowd insisted there will be no "radical decisions" made before any possible widespread roll out of artificial intelligence in the civil service is given "the fullest examination".
He also stressed that the rapidly advancing technology couldn't be assessed "on the basis of simple costs alone".
But he appeared to stop short of giving any guarantee that job losses won't result from any roll-out.
Asked by Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl for an update on the use of AI in the civil service, Mr O'Dowd said: "The pace of technological change is rapid. It is crucial that we understand the transformative power of AI and how it can be harnessed to benefit our society but in a responsible and controlled manner.
"AI presents many opportunities for the public sector to automate routine tasks, streamline processes and improve the management of public resources.
"My Department has been taking forward a number of small-scale proof-of-value projects to examine the use of AI in a measured way in order to understand how the technology can deliver value in the public sector. I am aware that other Departments are utilising AI to assist with the delivery of their services and that others are beginning to pilot and test the value of AI adoption.
"My Department has established an AI working group that is made up of digital leaders from across Departments to share emerging findings and take on board learnings, including those from other jurisdictions."
He was later asked by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty: "Given the concerns that there are in the Civil Service, what safeguards and guarantees will you put in place to ensure that any AI that is adopted in the Civil Service will be used to support employees and not replace them?"
The Minister replied: "I have given my commitment to the House that I will take careful, personal consideration and oversight of the matter as that area of technological advancement increases and increases rapidly.
"We have all witnessed significant technological advancement in our own lifetime, which has, in many ways, provided and improved public services, making them more efficient and ensuring that we are able to deliver them to as many people as possible in constrained budgetary times."
He added: "However, as I said, it is not simply a case of pounds, shillings and pence. You cannot carry out that equation on the basis of simple costs alone. Many elements have to be taken on board. I assure the Member that the fullest examination of that will be taken forward before any radical decisions are made."
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