Generative artificial intelligence, which is a form of AI that can produce content like text, images, audio, or video, has been getting a lot of attention, especially since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.
Generative AI offers opportunities to improve the services provided by the public sector, including for the promotion of the Welsh language. However, generative AI outputs depend on the quality of the data used to train models. Beyond technical limitations, other risks concern stakeholders including for instance the current lack of regulation, the impacts on jobs, and privacy and copyright issues.
Recent advancements in tools like AI agents and wearable AI widen the scope of what people can do using AI, but also raise more questions about ethical risks and regulation.
In November 2025, the previous Welsh Government published its AI Plan for Wales, which aims “to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence” by balancing economic growth with responsible use, and taking a social partnership approach that contrasts with the UK Government’s focus on using AI to drive growth and productivity.
Read our briefing to find out more about the opportunities and risks of generative AI in the public sector, as well as the current regulations in Wales and around the world and the implementation challenges involved.
Briefing by Amandine Debus and Jessica Woodgate, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
Senedd Research acknowledges the parliamentary fellowship provided to Amandine Debus by the Natural Environment Research Council and Jessica Woodgate by PolicyBristol and the Research England Policy Support Fund, which enabled this Research Briefing to be completed.