Public policy in today’s digital world is more than just legislation and regulations—it’s about ensuring accessible, accurate information is readily available to all citizens. This month, the UK government has taken an innovative step in this direction by launching a pilot of GOV.UK Chat, an AI-powered chatbot designed to provide fast, personalized answers based on the extensive guidance on GOV.UK.
Imagine the potential of a system that could instantly connect citizens and businesses with precise answers from over 700,000 GOV.UK pages. This pilot aims to harness generative AI to improve the way people access government information, streamlining interactions with the state and making support more accessible than ever. It’s a clear shift toward simplifying government services, a priority that lies at the heart of public service.
The GOV.UK AI team, a group of data scientists, developers, user researchers, and designers, has been testing this tool with invited users since late 2023. With nearly 70% of participants finding the chatbot helpful, it’s clear the technology has promise. By providing quick and relevant answers, it reduces the time and effort people spend sifting through large volumes of information. This is invaluable for small business owners and individuals managing complex interactions with the government.
The government team has also worked hard to manage the unique risks AI presents. For example, “hallucinations” are a known AI phenomenon where chatbots generate inaccurate information confidently. To counter this, GOV.UK Chat checks every response against human-written guidance and provides “Check this answer” links so users can verify the source material. Safety and security are also priorities. The team has conducted “red teaming” exercises, where they tested the AI’s resilience against potential misuse. This proactive approach aims to create a tool that is not only helpful but safe for public use.
This innovative approach to public service signals a shift towards more responsive and accessible government resources. As this pilot evolves, it could provide a valuable blueprint for how governments worldwide can use AI to enhance public services and improve citizen engagement.
Gov.Uk