Artificial intelligence (AI) use at Pharmac

Microsoft Co-Pilot

Microsoft Co-Pilot is the only AI in use at Pharmac. All information used by Co-Pilot is retained within Pharmac’s systems. Everything that AI produces is checked by a human. AI does not do anything by itself.

Patient identifiable data is not being used within AI tools.

Before we can use AI more broadly, we need to do further work on:

• data classification
• security management
• privacy needs

How Pharmac uses AI

To date, Co-Pilot has been used to help staff:

• produce meeting minutes
• summarise documents
• draft new documents.
• categorise medical devices

Policy in place

Pharmac’s Technology Acceptable Use Policy provides rules for all Pharmac staff that engage with AI tools. We are also considering how to ensure Te Ao Māori is protected while using AI.

We also have a working group, made up of staff across the agency. This group is helping Pharmac to understand and assess where AI can be used beneficially.