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MPs meet their algorithmic match

AI POLICY
The UK government is testing new AI tools to help with policymaking and civil service tasks.
One of these, Parlex, checks how MPs might react to policies by analysing their past statements in parliament.
It can also spot which MPs are passionate about certain issues.
For example, Parlex found Tory MPs tend to oppose 20mph speed limits, while Labour MPs support traffic calming.
Other tools aim to improve government efficiency:
Redbox: Automates document submissions for civil servants, saving time.
Consult: Streamlines public consultations, expected to save £80m a year.
AI in social services: Processes handwritten letters to help vulnerable people faster.
AI’s parliamentary psychic powers
Not everything has worked smoothly. A housing benefit fraud algorithm wrongly flagged 100,000 people, showing the risks of relying on AI for sensitive tasks.
The government is investing heavily in AI, with plans to boost computing power and unlock anonymised public data, including NHS records, to train AI systems.
These plans have raised privacy concerns, but ministers believe AI can boost the economy by up to $470bn over the next decade.
Imagine getting called out by an algorithm. MPs better watch their speeches!