Bermuda pilots AI pension-calculation chatbot to speed up service delivery
The Government will launch a pilot to build an AI-powered chatbot that helps employees calculate pension payments faster and with fewer errors, in partnership with the Near Foundation. If the pilot hits its targets, the work will expand into an online tax portal and calculator to give Bermudians easier access to accurate information and services.
The announcement followed Premier David Burt's participation at NearCon, the Near Foundation's global technology conference in San Francisco on February 23-24. The project focuses on practical gains for frontline teams and clearer digital pathways for the public.
What the pilot targets
- Reduce manual look-ups of pension rules and speed up benefit calculations for staff in HR, payroll, and pensions administration.
- Improve accuracy and consistency by standardising calculations against current policies and plan provisions.
- Provide clear, traceable responses so staff can review assumptions and explain outcomes to employees.
- Lay the groundwork for future self-service tools, starting with an online tax portal and calculator if the pilot succeeds.
Policy and regulation moving in step
The Government has formed a working group to consult with local stakeholders and the legal community on adding clarity around the use of AI agents in financial services. In parallel, the Bermuda Monetary Authority continues to accept AI-related projects in its regulatory sandboxes and Innovation Hub, building on its AI discussion paper published in July 2025.
For context on the BMA's innovation and supervisory approach, see the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
NearCon: Bermuda's collaborative model on display
At NearCon, the Premier joined a fireside conversation titled, "The 'Bermuda Triangle' Approach to Innovation and AI as the Next Regulatory Frontier," outlining collaboration among government, industry, and the BMA. He highlighted how this model helped Bermuda become an early mover on digital asset regulation and how a similar approach will guide AI.
The Premier also recorded an episode of The Rollup podcast, met with venture capital leaders to discuss AI, quantum, space, and other technologies, and advanced discussions with digital finance firms on Bermuda's broader "on-chain economy" initiative. He was accompanied by two digital finance advisers from the Ministry of Finance.
What this means for your department
- Inventory the pension rules, plan documents, legacy calculators, and edge cases your team uses most. Clear source documents speed configuration and reduce rework.
- Map data sources and permissions (who can see what), especially where employee data, salary history, and service years intersect.
- Define success metrics now: average calculation time, error rate, rework volume, and staff satisfaction. Baseline them before pilot kickoff.
- Identify a small group of subject-matter experts to test early versions, log exceptions, and approve rule changes.
- Plan training and change management so staff understand when to trust the chatbot, when to escalate, and how to document decisions.
- Align with procurement, security, and records management on data retention, audit logs, and incident response.
If the pilot works: next stop, tax self-service
The team intends to extend the same approach to a public-facing tax portal and calculator. Expect a focus on accurate guidance, fewer counter visits, and tighter integration with back-office systems so staff can handle exceptions instead of routine inquiries.
Helpful resources
- AI for Government - frameworks, case studies, and procurement considerations for public-sector AI.
- AI Learning Path for Payroll Administrators - practical training for teams working on payroll and pension calculations.
Bottom line: Pair a focused pilot with clear rules of engagement and measurable outcomes. That's how we turn AI from a headline into better service for employees and citizens.
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