38777 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

38777 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How much, if any, was spent in the 2023/24 financial year in the Minister's departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, on artificial intelligence, including costs on training staff, deploying systems, maintaining subscriptions and any other associated costs?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD/the Ministry) does not hold a centrally tracked or discrete budget for MSD use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the 2023/24 financial year. Expenditure relating to AI (including staff training, system deployment, subscriptions, and associated costs) is embedded within a range of existing programmes and operational budgets across the Ministry, rather than being separately identified as a specific budget line. For the Crown entities that MSD monitors, I am advised their artificial intelligence related costs in 2023/24 were: • Children’s Commissioner: Nil • Independent Children's Monitor: Nil • New Zealand Artificial Limb Service: Nil • Social Workers Registration Board: Artificial intelligence expenditure for 2023/24 was $341.