“I’m going to get in trouble, because I’m really impatient.”
Feryal Clark, the Minister for AI and Digital Government, said she doesn’t want to hang around when it comes to rolling out AI across government.
Clark was speaking at the launch of a new report from think tank the Social Market Foundation and sponsored by ServiceNow, which suggests the strategic deployment of AI and automation could dramatically improve productivity and efficiency.
“The potential of AI to transform public services is enormous,” she said. “In the absence of huge amounts of investment in public services, we have to do things differently, and AI presents a unique opportunity to kick-start this revolution.”
Clark highlighted the government’s commitment to being a leading adopter of AI technology, not just a promoter.
“We are not just pushing it; we are a customer as well,” she explained. “We want to ensure that the UK becomes one of the best places to set up and scale up AI businesses, and we are taking steps to support the industry’s growth.”
Clark revealed that the government is working with the NHS to explore how AI can streamline processes and save valuable time for healthcare professionals. “There is huge potential in supporting our NHS through AI, particularly in areas like automating repetitive tasks and freeing up time for healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.
“There are already quite a few examples of use cases, pilots, developed and tested, where AI is being used to review scans and other data, saving time for healthcare professionals,” she said.
Beyond the NHS, Clark emphasised the government’s commitment to rolling out AI across the public sector, with the goal of empowering civil servants to focus on their core responsibilities.
“If you ask any social worker, doctor, or police officer, they would love to get some time back from doing repetitive tasks,” she said. “AI can help us achieve that, not by replacing people, but by saving them time so they can put their efforts into the areas where they are truly needed.”
The minister also emphasised the importance of addressing public concerns about AI and ensuring transparency in its use.
“One part of my job is to ensure that we are trying to bring about change in understanding from society, because there is a significant fear around AI,” she said. “We need to ensure that our citizens understand the potential for AI to improve their lives, and how and where we’re using it.”
