The UK government is rolling out an innovative new AI tool designed to accelerate the process of reviewing public responses during consultations. Named Consult, the system promises to analyze feedback up to 1,000 times faster than human officials, offering substantial cost savings and freeing up government resources for other important tasks.
First tried by the Scottish government for its consultation on non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as lip fillers, Consult has now proven its effectiveness in processing public input, producing results that mirror the conclusions of human experts. With the tool’s success, the UK government is looking to expand its use across various departments.
AI Technology Streamlines Government Processes and Saves Taxpayer Money
The Consult AI tool is part of a larger program from the UK government to use AI technologies at Whitehall – collectively referred to as “Humphrey”. This suite of AI tools will bring a modern approach to the public sector, seek to reduce inefficiency, and ultimately deliver millions of pounds worth of savings to British taxpayers.
As the government has stated, the Consult tool will save around £20 million a year, and will also reduce the 75,000 hours that government officials currently spend on consultation. Given the government runs over 500 consultations a year, providing AI in the consultation process could help officials.
The Benefits and Risks of AI in Public Policy
The AI tool’s potential to quickly, efficiently, and expertly analyze thousands of responses was seen as a game-changer for public policy processes. Consult processes in a fraction of the time it would take public policy experts, allowing governments to take quicker action on important public issues.
However, AI researchers, including Professor Michael Rovatsos at the University of Edinburgh, are more conservative in acknowledging it as a possibility while grounding themselves in realities surrounding the AI being used for public policy.
AI as a Tool for Change in Government Operations
The launching of Consult represents an increasing trend in integrating AI in governance to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. As governments around the world are forced to do more with less, tools like Consult provide opportunities for streamlining processes that would otherwise require significant time and cost.
Consult is still in its beta phase; nonetheless, the UK government believes that it will rolled out in a number of departments by the end of 2025. In the future, it may also be used to expedite the assessment of public consultations, in relation to environmental policy to educational reform.
The Future of AI in Government
The introduction of Consult is a significant moment in terms of creating a more efficient and AI-enabled government. There are still questions about bias and oversight, but the results of its initial trials suggest a growing role for AI in the policymaking process.
As the UK government explores the possibilities of AI, there may be a movement for other countries to implement similar AI technologies to drive better governance and deliver value for taxpayers. If successful, Consult could help shape the future of public consultation around the globe.
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