The UK government is launching an AI tool across the country to understand how people feel about different topics.
The tool, called Consult, was first tested by the Scottish government. It helped gather public opinions on rules for non-surgical cosmetic treatments like Botox and fillers. The government says the tool gave the same results as human workers.
Now, the government plans to use it for many more public consultations. They believe it could save around 75,000 days of manual work each year and about £20 million in staff costs.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said, “No one should waste time on work AI can do better and faster. We shouldn’t spend millions hiring outside workers when AI can handle it.”
Consult is part of a group of AI tools named Humphrey, after a character in the old TV show Yes, Minister. These tools are being used to help government staff work faster and save money.
Mr. Kyle added, “Scotland made the first move. Now, we’ll be using Consult in other government departments too. It will help speed up our work for positive change.”
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted AI to be a big part of how the UK works, aiming to unlock a £400 billion opportunity for the economy.
A Google report in April said that about half of this growth could come from workers using AI to be more efficient.
Still, using AI in workplaces has its challenges—like training staff, building the right systems, and dealing with messy data. Also, not everyone is equally comfortable using AI. Research found that women over 55 are four times less likely to use AI than men under 35.
Source: sky
