UK Government Plans to Utilize AI to Reduce Civil Service Employment

The two main concerns surrounding AI are its potential to generate nonsensical information and the threat of job displacement for human workers. Despite these fears, the UK government is actively advocating for AI to take on tasks typically performed by civil servants, including drafting responses to parliamentary inquiries, according to reports.

UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is introducing a "red box" tool designed to absorb and summarize information from credible sources, such as the parliamentary records. Additionally, a separate tool is being tested for generating individual responses to public consultations. While the efficiency of these AI tools is still uncertain, Dowden claims they can accomplish what would typically take 25 civil servants three months. Importantly, all drafts will undergo human review and source verification.

Dowden emphasized the importance of AI in reducing civil service jobs, stating, "It really is the only way to achieve a sustainable reduction in headcount. The Civil Service grew significantly due to the pandemic and EU exit preparedness. We must embrace technology to drive these numbers down." His sentiments align with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's vision to leverage technology for enhancing government productivity.

However, Dowden has shown caution regarding AI's applications. In a pre-speech briefing, he clarified that AI will not be utilized in "novel, contentious, or highly politically sensitive areas." Furthermore, the Cabinet Office's AI division is projected to expand from 30 to 70 employees, backed by a budget increase from £5 million ($6.3 million) to £110 million ($139.1 million).