AI for Public Good – Deputy Prime Minister speech

In February 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden MP, gave a speech on AI for the public good including what UK government is doing. Here we summarise the key points:

• Opportunities: “Modern AI has the potential to fundamentally change the way that public services operate within just a few short years. There is the prospect of increased productivity, vast efficiency savings, and improved services.” Dowden said he thinks that there are four ways AI can be applied to much of public sector activity: spotting patterns of fraud and error; helping the public to navigate services; managing casework; and automating internal processes.  These can be applied across sectors in various ways. 
• i.AI Initiative: “A small team called ‘i.AI’ has been established within the government to spearhead AI integration in public services, aiming to scale up operations and implement AI solutions swiftly. … The aim is to now more than double the size of i.AI - to 70 people.” Further, i.AI will sign a ‘Collaboration Charter’ with NHS England; apparently a first-of-a-kind initiative to “provide a framework for our experts in the incubator to support the NHS to identify and deploy AI solutions that improve services for patients” and Dowden hopes that similar frameworks will be signed between i.AI and other government departments..
• Principles: as AI rolls-out across the public sector, Dowden emphasised the following principles: sharing best practice; deploying individual models to multiple use-cases;  finding economies of scale; and “crucially”, ensuring interoperability.
• Departmental ministers for AI: Dowden also announced that every government department has now designated a specific minister to be responsible for AI in their area and he has asked for them to meet on a regular basis.

If you have any questions or would otherwise like to discuss any of the issues raised in this article, please contact Tom Whittaker, David Varney, Liz Smith, or another member of our Technology Team. For the latest updates on AI law, regulation, and governance, see our AI blog at: AI: Burges Salmon blog (burges-salmon.com).