Investment in artificial intelligence now could offer increased productivity in many key sectors, including health by 2030.
In order to achieve that, the Government's tasked the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) with developing an AI roadmap to support innovation in the area.
"I'd like to see that a lot of the things we now wait months or weeks for — for appointments or assessments, those sorts of things, in terms of health — are done instantly," Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins said.
AI Forum New Zealand executive director Madeline Newman said: "Now is our opportunity."
"In five years' time, it will be too late."
Auckland firm Toku Eyes is already using artificial intelligence for better health outcomes.
It's developed an AI tool which can recognise subtle changes in blood vessels and pigmentation to identify people at risk of developing heart disease "and other preventable disease results", chief commercial officer Francesca Logan said.
A recent PWC study found that AI could contribute more than US$15 trillion (NZ$24.7 trillion) to the global economy by 2030.
AI Forum NZ has identified six sectors with the most potential: agriculture, construction, creative industries, education, environment, and health.
"I think the big problem we have at the moment is that we are simply not using AI sufficiently or frequently," Collins said.
In the agriculture sector, another barrier is connectivity in rural areas.
"It is something I'm very concerned about," Collins said.
Those in the technology sector say proper regulation will be key to managing privacy and security concerns around AI.
"There are risks with AI. It is going to change human civilisation, and it is going to greatly disrupt things that we've got used to," computer scientist Michael Witbrock said.
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But Collins said the greater danger is not using it.
"There are lots of risks that come with it, largest risk though is not doing it," she said.
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