Image source: Simon Dawson, No 10 Downing Street, Open Government Licence v3.0
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated the future importance of AI in UK public services, identifying the technology as a key element in reshaping the state.
The Prime Minister’s Office has flagged up details of a speech he plans to give today on the future of the British state.
It includes a “digital revolution” to make the state more agile, effective and active, with technology and AI teams being sent into departments to drive improvements in public services.
One in 10 civil servants will work in tech and digital roles within the next five years, underpinned by the enrolment of 2,000 new TechTrack apprentices.
The office has indicated that the approach will involve the mantra that “No person’s substantive time should be spent on a task where digital or AI can do it better, quicker and to the same high quality and standard”.
£45 billion of benefits
Starmer is expected to say: “If we push forward with the digitisation of government services. There are up to £45 billion worth of savings and productivity benefits, ready to be realised.
“And that’s before we even consider the golden opportunity of artificial intelligence. An opportunity I am determined to seize.”
The announcement comes weeks after he declared the development of AI for public services would be a priority of the UK Government.
Other plans announced today include reducing the spend on “pricey contractors” and cutting the costs of regulation for businesses. These derive from the view that the state has become bigger but weaker and is not delivering on its core purpose.
Need for technical talent
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “There is a £45 billion jackpot to secure if we use technology properly across our public sector – but we can’t hope to come close to securing that if we don’t have the right technical talent with us in government.
“Not only will these changes help fix our public services, but it will save taxpayer cash by slashing the need for thousands of expensive contractors and create opportunities across the country across the country as part of our Plan for change.”
