The New Zealand government identified numerous challenges related to trust and truth in the context of digital technologies. These challenges result from an ever-increasing amount of online social networks, end-to-end digital supply chains, automated decision-making tools, generative artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber-physical systems. Such challenges impact people's lives across professional and private contexts and led to the Veracity Projecta 2021–2024. Outside the field of computing, veracity is not a common term in everyday language. One dictionary definition is "conformity with truth or fact."b

If New Zealand does not invest in artificial intelligence research, its AI capabilities will only be efficient software running in the cloud of large overseas companies, creating risk for the country's technology and data sovereignty independence. This is a conclusion of the first white paper issued by New Zealand's Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association, which says our universities and research institutes have very strong AI research with "huge breadth and potential". "It is imperative to create and invest in an AI ecosystem where industry and research organisations can work together more closely for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand," said the paper. AI was profoundly changing how people live and work, and its cumulative impact was likely to be comparable to transformative technologies such as electricity or the internet. "As a result it is imperative that we take a strategic approach to realising the potential benefits offered by AI and to protecting people against the potential risks," the paper said.

In terms of creating world-leading AI businesses, nurturing a pool of talented AI engineers, applying AI technologies to our government, agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries, and holding a meaningful national debate on the broader implications for society, the rapid development of AI technologies presents major opportunities and challenges for New Zealand. Hence, New Zealand must engage actively with AI now to ensure its future success. If New Zealand does not invest in artificial intelligence research, its AI capabilities will be limited to efficient software running on the clouds of giant multinational corporations, jeopardising the country's technological and data sovereignty. This was confirmed in the publication of New Zealand's first white paper, which claims that the country's universities and research institutes have "great breadth and potential" in AI research. The white paper recognised the importance of AI and emphasised the importance of establishing and investing in an AI ecosystem in which industry and research organisations can collaborate more closely for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand.