Browse
Themes

Devolution Digital Education and skills Energy Growth and productivity Health and Care Housing Justice Local Government Machinery of government Public finances Social security
Publication Digital Growth and productivity Machinery of government Public finances 4 September, 2024

Getting the machine learning: scaling AI in public services

Read the full report  

AI has the potential to drastically transform government for the better, increasing efficiency and cutting costs. Other governments and the private sector are already seeing the benefits from using AI at scale. However inadequate central leadership, ‘pilotitus’, funding gaps and disproportionate risk aversion are preventing AI from scaling up across the UK’s public sector.

The successful adoption, at scale, of new technologies has transformed society. To achieve this for AI in public services, a clear focus is needed on the areas which are most amenable to change and where there is a proven track record of impact. The government should not wait for future AI innovations to drive productivity, but instead should focus on using the ones which already exist — and are often widely deployed in the private sector — to full effect. 

Getting the machine learning provides a step-by-step guide to adopting AI in the areas of government where it has the most promise.

AI and IT procurement data from Tussell's data platform can be found in Appendix 2, here.

Responses to Re:State's FOI requests of government departments can be found in Appendix 3, here.