Shaping the future of AI in government

The landscape of government services is undergoing a transformative revolution, driven by artificial intelligence (AI). A recent panel of government and technology leaders at Think AI for Government (pictured) offered insights into how AI will reshape public services, addressing challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Here are five key takeaways on the future of AI in government.

Trust: The cornerstone of AI adoption

At the heart of AI’s future in government lies trust. “Part of my job is to make sure that we are communicating about how we invest in AI, how we are using this technology for public good,” said Professor Kirstine Dale, chief AI officer at the Met Office.

This sentiment echoes a fundamental challenge – building public confidence in AI-driven services. Ade Bamigboye, CTO at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, highlighted the nuanced nature of trust, noting that it’s about more than just data protection. “Trust is about perception,” he said. “It’s the experience you get as a user, or a person impacted by the AI.”

This means creating transparent, explainable AI systems that citizens can understand and rely on.

Preparing for an AI-driven future with skills and diversity

The panel stressed the critical need for diverse skills and representation in AI development. Professor Dale pointed out a stark reality: “We have an issue in data science. Only 10 percent of data scientists are women.”

She added that AI is a “magnifier” – the services developed will reflect the diversity of those creating them.

Founder of Impact Circle, Kanika Joshi, drove home the point about inclusivity. “We have a second generation opportunity to develop policies which do not leave people behind. For once, we can develop AI services that are really built for all,” she said.

Economic and entrepreneurial potential

Fawad Qureshi, global field CTO at Snowflake, drew a compelling parallel between AI and historical economic transformations. “AI is the new space race,” he said, highlighting how countries are striving for technological leadership.

He noted that 71 percent of AI investment came from the United States last year, with the UK’s contribution being significantly smaller.

Qureshi warned about the importance of supportive policies: “We need to facilitate. We need to create policies which help create AI entrepreneurship.”

Practical applications and efficiency

The panel also discussed numerous practical applications of AI in government services. Global head of AI products at Caution Your Blast, Jonathan Sykes, noted the importance of skills and sustainability, particularly in integrating AI across different government services.

“We need integration engineers,” he said. “People who can test this stuff and understand what’s going on.”

The Foreign Office’s AI-powered consulate service was highlighted as a successful example of practical AI implementation. Sykes shared how they created a solution with 100 percent accurate responses, addressing concerns about AI hallucinations and unreliability.

Future skills and job creation

Contrary to fears about job losses, the panel saw AI as a job creator. Joshi saw a shift in the narrative from “AI will take jobs” to “AI will create jobs.” The focus should be on understanding how AI can create new opportunities and enhance existing roles.

Professor Dale suggested a spectrum of skills will be needed, from technical expertise to partnership skills. “We need more partnership skills,” she explained, “because a lot of AI in the future is going to be collaborative.”

The panel’s message was clear: AI in government is not about replacing humans but enhancing human capabilities. Said Joshi: “The future of AI in government is the future of AI with citizens.”