Artificial intelligence should be gradually adopted in garments

The adoption of artificial intelligence in improving productivity in the RMG sector should be gradual and selective, said former central bank governor Atiur Rahman.

“Collaboration of human and robot (cobots) could be a pathway towards integrating technological innovation in apparel industry in Bangladesh,” he said.

He was presenting a keynote at an international conference on “The apparel industry: productivity improvement, disruptive innovation and leadership” at a hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidulla was also present at the conference.

Rahman shared his experience as a central bank governor in transforming a disaster like the Rana Plaza tragedy into opportunities along with contributions from the industry leaders and public policymakers. Seven of the world's top 10 best green factories are situated in Bangladesh, he added.

The garment sector cannot improve alone unless there is gradual adaptation of modern technologies, he said.

Artificial intelligence is a pathway to integrate the great number of unskilled production workers into a structurally difficult labour market that depends on foreign investment, Rahman opined.