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The National Audit Office has stated that the lack of a cohesive plan from the Government to implement artificial intelligence in the public sector could result in significant cost savings for taxpayers and improve public services. However, this potential is currently not being utilized.
According to a study by the NAO, 70% of Whitehall departments are investigating potential applications of AI, but a shortage of skilled workers continues to impede progress.
The watchdog expressed concern that the wage rates were inadequate in drawing in the necessary workers for the UK’s significant changes, revealing that there were 4,000 job openings in digital, data, and technology fields in the Government as of October 2022.
“Freelancers and temporary workers can compensate for this deficit, but at a higher expense and hinder the Government’s potential to build its own competencies.”
The lack of a designated entity responsible for implementing AI in the government sector posed a potential risk to efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are both responsible for implementing AI. The cross-government AI Strategy Delivery Group was dissolved in March 2022 but was replaced by a new entity in October 2023.
The study revealed that implementing more AI could lead to improved productivity, but stated that the Government has not yet assessed the potential costs or feasibility.
The Chairman of the National Audit Office (NAO), Gareth Davies, stated that utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) presents potential for the government to improve public services and achieve more advantageous results for taxpayers.
In order to achieve better results, the government must address longstanding issues such as data quality and aging IT, as well as implement effective risk management in their overall plan for AI adoption.
If steps are not taken promptly to overcome obstacles in using AI effectively in public services, the Government will not reap the benefits it has identified.
The chair of the Public Accounts Committee in the House of Commons, Dame Meg Hillier, stated that the government has been promoting the use of AI for many years and there are already ongoing AI initiatives and research within various government agencies. Therefore, it is necessary for the Cabinet Office to consolidate this knowledge and experience and distribute it among different departments.
In order to fully harness the advantages of AI in the public sector, it is essential to address the potential risks involved. It is also crucial to clearly establish who holds responsibility for devising and implementing the strategy for AI adoption, as well as determining the necessary funding.
Source: independent.co.uk
