Public service creates chief AI officer role to lead digital transformation – Newsbook

New position will coordinate all artificial intelligence projects across government departments as Malta pushes €100 million digitalisation drive
The Public Service is establishing a new Chief AI Officer position to spearhead the coordination of artificial intelligence projects across government, Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana announced at a conference organised by MITA on digital government.
The senior role will oversee all AI-related initiatives within public administration and will be supported by an AI Governance Group comprising members from different sectors. The announcement signals Malta’s commitment to positioning itself at the forefront of digital transformation in public service delivery.
Speaking at the conference, Sultana emphasised that artificial intelligence must serve as a “force multiplier” to help the Public Service serve the country more efficiently, rather than merely being deployed as another tool. “To have a digital Government, we must not be satisfied with the status quo. We must leave a legacy because, as a public administration, we are ready to lead even in this field,” he said.
The initiative comes on the heels of finance minister Clyde Caruana’s Budget 2026 announcement of a €100 million investment in digitalisation and adoption of technologies including AI, IoT, cybersecurity, AR/VR, blockchain, and robotics. The funds will be distributed through Malta Enterprise, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, European funds, and other government agencies.
In an ambitious “AI for Everyone” initiative, the government will provide free AI courses, national certification, and practical sessions for all members of society, from parents and students to workers and the elderly. Upon completion, participants will receive a free subscription to an AI service such as ChatGPT or Gemini. The programme, currently in advanced stages of development, is expected to launch early next year.
Sultana expressed particular satisfaction with this budget measure, noting it would bring artificial intelligence closer to the entire population. He encouraged senior officers to mentor younger public service employees who are “digital by birth”, describing them as impatient for change and unafraid of technology.
Emanuel Darmanin, MITA’s Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the critical importance of strengthening collaboration between the public sector and MITA to add value and efficiency to service delivery through increased digitalisation. He noted that Malta is already achieving positive results in European indices and expressed confidence that the country’s public administration could become a model of excellence in digitalisation at both European and international levels.
The “Digital Government” conference featured contributions from local and international experts, including Claudia Oliveira from the European Commission, who explained how the Interoperable Europe initiative is facilitating more connected governance across Member States. Jonathan Cassar, MITA’s Chief Information Security Officer, addressed cyber resilience challenges, whilst former MEP Dr Josianne Cutajar discussed the AI regulatory framework and opportunities within the public sector.
Technical workshops covering cybersecurity, data interoperability, and cloud technologies provided practical knowledge on supply chain risks and global AI trends in public administration.
The government also announced plans to introduce a National Digital Identity Wallet by year’s end, allowing citizens and businesses to securely share and verify digital identity and certificates using a “once-only” principle.

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