Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 76
Undertake AI capability assessment for civil service and publish detailed public sector action plan.
Recommendation
i.AI should undertake an assessment of the existing civil service workforce’s AI capability, identify areas of the public sector that would benefit the most from the use of AI and where value for money can be delivered, set out how potential risks associated with its use should be mitigated, and publish a detailed AI public sector action plan. Progress against these should be reported to Parliament on an annual basis and through regular written or oral statements by Ministers.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government describes ongoing work and existing frameworks that partially address the recommendation, including a Generative AI Framework for risk mitigation and new AI courses for civil service capability. It refers to an upcoming 'AI Opportunities Action Plan' that will detail public sector AI adoption but does not explicitly commit to publishing a detailed AI public sector action plan or annual reporting to Parliament.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
76
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
Public sector adoption is a key part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The public sector takes advantage of the best emerging use-cases and tools. Further updates on this will be shared. In regard to ensuring the public sector benefits from the use of AI, the technology has significant potential to improve public services. AI will continue to form part of the Government’s approach to digital service delivery, including through the new Digital Centre of Government housed within the DSIT. Government is shaping the new ‘digital centre’, which will expand the work of the Incubator for AI (i.AI) to harness the power of AI for the public good. The projects being led or supported by i.AI, and currently being piloted by users, are listed as follows, with further details available on the i.AI website at ai.gov.uk: • Caddy – a customer service copilot, currently being piloted in Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale & Trafford (CASORT). • Redbox – a secure Government chatbot, being trialled by over 600 users in the Cabinet Office • Consult – A tool to draw out insights from large consultations • Lex – A tool for navigating legislation data, being piloted by Government lawyers and legislation teams. i.AI is also incubating other projects which will be announced in due course as they progress to pilot. As an incubator, i.AI does not routinely publish details of projects in their very early stages of scoping and development. By design i.AI incubates a large number of projects (around 50 have been incubated so far), assesses and evaluates them, and then down selects to deliver the programs with the strongest delivery and impact potential. The team sources ideas for product development from ministerial priorities, departmental suggestions, external engagement, and internal ideation. Before proceeding, these ideas are prioritised by assessing and balancing deliverability, value for money and potential impact. i.AI has recruited a dedicated Impact and Evaluation team to embed evaluation into product development. We will ensure there’s correct governance in place to drive progress on building scientific and technological capabilities, including through ensuring ministerial buy-in across Whitehall through fora such as the Science and Technology Cabinet Committee. The Government is committed to driving safe adoption of AI in the public sector. The Generative AI Framework was published in January 2024 to provide practical considerations for anyone planning or developing a generative AI solution. The Government is working on an update to support decision makers in Government and the wider public sector with relevant independent guidance. The updated AI Framework provides decision makers in Government and the wider public sector with the latest guidance on using AI safely and securely. In regard to the Civil Service workforce AI capabilities, in August 2024, we published nine courses to Civil Service Learning covering a range of AI topics from introductory to advanced levels supplied by industry leaders, which will support all civil servants to learn about this important topic. This is an ongoing work stream. The Government will continue to assess the civil service workforce AI capabilities to build upon this. In February 2024 we announced that the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) would now be made ‘a requirement for all Government departments, with an intent to extend to the broader public sector over time’. The rollout of this mandatory requirement is well underway. We have initially prioritised central Government departments. This has then been followed by a priority group of around 85 arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) which deliver public or frontline services, or which interact directly with the general public. We expect to publish the first collection of records drafted under this requirement on GOV.UK imminently. We will also shortly publish on GOV.UK a scope and exemptions policy explicitly setting out the organisations for which use of the ATRS is currently mandatory. As a Data Standards Authority endorsed product, the ATRS remains recommended for use in the broader public sector, and we will continue to explore options for further embedding and enforcing its use. The AI Safety Institute Government response to Committee conclusions and recommendations 21 – 26
Read the full response on Parliament ↗