Senator Barnett-Ellis: AI can be both transformational and dangerous

Senator the Hon. Michela Barnett Ellis presented on the topic of Parliament's Role in Countering Misinformation and Regulating Emerging Digital Technologies Including AI at the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Regional Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region held at the British Colonial, Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The session was moderated by Senator the Hon. Erecia Hepburn-Forbes. (BIS Photos/Llonella Gilbert)

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Senator the Hon. Michela Barnett-Ellis said she recently learned just how transformative and dangerous Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be.

"Earlier this year I moderated a session with Dr. Helen Papagiannis, an internationally respected AI and innovation speaker. She played a game with us called 'Real or AI' - showing photos and videos, and asking us to guess whether they were genuine or AI generated. It was astonishing how difficult it was to tell the difference."

The Senator was speaking at the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Regional Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region in the session focusing on Parliament's Role in Countering Misinformation and Regulating Emerging Digital Technologies Including AI at the British Colonial, Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

She explained that there was a very public case in The Bahamas recently where the attorney submitted legal arguments generated by ChatGPT, complete with references that simply do not exist in what is now known as "ghost cases".

"Opposing counsel exposed the fabrication, and the matter has been referred to our Ethics Committee. The episode was not only embarrassing, but also a vivid warning: reckless reliance on AI can create mischief with very real consequences."

The Senator added, "If this can happen in a courtroom, imagine the implications for politics."

She noted that The Bahamas is in an election year - which in our system can stretch to 18 months. "Already there are fears that AI technology will be used in campaigns to spread misinformation, manipulate voters and undermine trust in institutions.

"And like many of your jurisdictions, our civil and criminal laws have not yet caught up to this new era of cybercrime. This is where Parliament's role becomes critical."

The Senator explained that the responsibilities of Parliamentarians are three-fold.

She said they must first act as a shield, which means enacting legislation that regulates technologies responsibly - laws that guide privacy, codify ethical use and hold both governments and corporations accountable.

The Senator said secondly, there must be transparency. The algorithms that shape what people see online, the way data is collected and handled, the deployment of AI systems - these should never be shrouded in secrecy. "As parliamentarians, we must ensure they are subject to scrutiny and accountability, just as any other powerful force in society would be."

She said lastly, Parliamentarians must serve as a channel for their citizens' voices.

That means listening to civil society, academia, the private sector, and most importantly the young people.

"They are often the most exposed to the risks of digital technologies, but also the most creative in harnessing their potential. If we fail to include them in the conversation, we miss the vital insights into the future we are legislating for."

The Senator did note that AI is not only a threat but also holds enormous promise.

"In Parliament itself, AI can generate accurate transcripts of our proceedings in real time, making our debates more transparent, searchable and accessible to citizens."

She said that AI is already assisting doctors in diagnosing illnesses, analyzing data faster than any human team, and identifying public health trends before they become crises.

The Senator added, "In education, AI can expand access to knowledge, giving students in remote communities the same learning tools as those in capital cities."

The session was moderated by Senator the Hon. Erecia Hepburn-Forbes.