AI POLICY
The UK government is gearing up for a digital shake-up, aiming to replace some civil servant tasks with AI, so long as it gets the job done to the same standard.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says this could save over £45bn and increase efficiency across the government, in addition to plans to bring in 2,000 tech apprentices to help modernise the civil service.
Under the shake-up, officials will be encouraged to let AI handle repetitive tasks.
The government also wants to cut down on some regulatory bodies and slash regulation costs by 25% to speed up decision-making.
But not everyone is convinced.
Unions are raising concerns, with Dave Penman, head of the FDA union for senior civil servants, warning that bold AI-driven plans need more than just catchy slogans, they need real strategies.
Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union, agreed that tech can be useful but insists that any changes must involve staff.
He also points out that the government will struggle to attract tech talent with the current public sector pay setup.
Here’s what you should know:
The government wants to save £45bn by ramping up AI and digitising public services.
Unions warn that AI reforms need careful handling to avoid job losses and sinking morale.
Big civil service cuts and regulation rollbacks are coming, but the government denies it’s taking a chainsaw to the system.
From paperwork to Python scripts
The civil service is about to shrink, with over 10,000 jobs on the line.
Starmer’s government is pushing back against claims that they’re going for drastic US-style cuts, rejecting comparisons to Elon Musk’s involvement in Donald Trump’s efficiency drive.
Officials insist this is about modernisation, not just slashing jobs.
AI might be running Whitehall, but good luck getting it to understand British bureaucracy.