Background of the report
AI has the potential to transform public services, but it also comes with risks and concerns.
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In 2023, the Cabinet Office's Central Digital Data Office (CDDO), in collaboration with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Treasury, began developing an AI adoption strategy in the public sector. The draft strategy has four objectives.
- The UK public sector will lead the world in the safe, responsible and transparent use of AI to improve public services and outcomes.
- Citizens will benefit from services transformed by AI and will be convinced that governments are accountable for their use of AI.
- Civil servants and civil servants will have the tools, information, and skills they need to use AI to deliver better outcomes.
- All public organizations can benefit from AI implementation, increasing efficiency and productivity, and setting the stage to innovate in the next wave of technology.
Report scope
This report examines how effectively governments are positioning themselves to maximize the opportunities and reduce risks of AI in public service delivery.
A key focus of this report is the role of the Cabinet Office and DSIT in supporting the adoption of AI in the public sector. Specifically, this report considers:
- Government strategy and governance for the use of AI in public services (Part 1).
- How government agencies are using AI and how they understand the opportunity (Part 2).
- A central government scheme to help test, pilot and scale AI. Progress in addressing barriers to AI adoption (Part 3).
Video overview
conclusion
AI gives governments the opportunity to transform public services. Government leaders have recognized that deploying AI across the public sector has the potential to massively improve productivity.
Responsibility for AI rests with DSIT and the Cabinet Office, and the government is working on a draft strategy for introducing AI in the public sector, but has not yet finalized it or published an implementation plan.
A survey of government agencies found that while AI is not yet widely used across government, 70% of respondents are piloting and planning use cases for AI.
Government departments are required to create an AI implementation plan by June 2024.
Unless governments establish which departments will have overall ownership and accountability for the implementation of public sector AI implementation strategies, and define appropriate roles and responsibilities for those who need to contribute, cost-effectiveness will be a challenge. risks arise.
Achieving large-scale benefits may require not only the introduction of new technology, but also significant changes in business processes and corresponding changes in the workforce.
To realize the transformative benefits of AI, governments must ensure that their overall program of AI adoption is ambitious and supported by a realistic plan for the necessary skills, funding and wider enablers. it needs to be checked.
Governments must also remain focused on addressing other fundamental barriers to AI adoption, such as legacy systems and data access and sharing. Failure to do so will limit the extent to which AI's future potential can be exploited.
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Publication details
press release
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(March 15, 2024)
