Not using AI in public services would mean ‘choosing decline’, UK minister warns

{"text":[[{"start":10,"text":"Failing to accelerate the deployment of AI in public services would mean the UK is choosing “decline”, a top Treasury minister has warned, vowing to prioritise the rollout of the technology across Whitehall. "}],[{"start":22.4,"text":"Lucy Rigby, the newly appointed chief secretary to the Treasury, pointed to signs of strengthening productivity in the NHS as she vowed to put AI at the heart of the way the state delivers services more efficiently."}],[{"start":35.349999999999994,"text":"This meant embedding AI across entire organisations, rather than just individual teams and processes, officials said, pointing to HM Revenue & Customs as one area where case backlogs could be eased."}],[{"start":48.05,"text":"“There’s no route to the national renewal that we all want to see that doesn’t go via the rapid adoption of AI,” said Rigby in an interview with the FT. "}],[{"start":58.3,"text":"“Some of those productivity benefits are already being seen. But we have to constantly and relentlessly be looking for reform at the moment, particularly focused on the digital transformation, else you effectively choose decline.”"}],[{"start":72.6,"text":"AI projects being trialled range from transcription services for writing up case notes in the justice and health systems to chatbots dealing with queries to HMRC. "}],[{"start":84.05,"text":"So far, AI has been used to make staff more efficient, but efforts are focused on using the technology to make more radical changes to government processes."}],[{"start":93.45,"text":"Trials are getting under way of using AI systems to detect fraud in the tax and benefit systems, as well as to automate local council planning decisions. "}],[{"start":102.9,"text":"In Whitehall, civil servants are using AI to summarise responses to public consultations as well as to anticipate political objections to potential projects. "}],[{"start":113.2,"text":"The NHS is also hoping to use AI to guide doctor consultations and interpret scans, in the hope that this will allow it to recruit fewer clinical staff. "}],[{"start":122.45,"text":"Longer term, ministers hope the digital ID system will allow AI to bring together data from disparate parts of the state to offer personalised help to citizens. This could include prompts for people to apply for the correct benefits to reminders to renew passports."}],[{"start":138.9,"text":"“One of the things about AI in the public sector is about the way that people interact with the state and the delivery of public services,” said Rigby. This, she added, “is fundamental actually to public trust”. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":153,"text":"Official statistics show a modest improvement in public sector productivity, with growth of 0.4 per cent in 2024 and 0.6 per cent in 2025. But this is still lower than the average annual growth of 0.7 per cent in the decade to 2019. "}],[{"start":170,"text":"Rigby pointed to NHS statistics showing “changes in the right direction”. A report by the NHS in February found that it delivered 2.6 per cent productivity growth in the acute sector in the first half of the fiscal year 2025-26."}],[{"start":185.25,"text":"The drive for wider AI use in Whitehall comes as the UK public finances come under renewed pressure because of the energy crisis and uncertainty created by the war in Iran. "}],[{"start":196.05,"text":"Bond market jitters about the UK’s fiscal position have intensified not only because of the energy crisis, which is set to drive inflation close to 4 per cent, but also because of potential challenges to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. Investors are concerned that a future Labour prime minister may not stick to chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules. "}],[{"start":216.65,"text":"“The commitment of the chancellor to the fiscal rules is paramount and ironclad and she won’t be departing from that,” said Rigby. She insisted the Treasury’s plan was “showing signs of success”, pointing to 0.6 per cent first-quarter GDP growth, although economists warn the energy crisis will sap future momentum. "}],[{"start":234.6,"text":"Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham last week said land was “undertaxed” in the UK, in comments suggesting landowners could be hit by heavier levies if he becomes prime minister. "}],[{"start":245.4,"text":"Asked about his comments, Rigby said “taxation when it comes to land is complicated — I think that is the key thing”. "}],[{"start":253.05,"text":"“I think there are good arguments for tax simplification over a number of areas and over the long term,” she said. “These are arguments that have been around for many many years. As you well know our system of taxation in the UK is complicated.” "}],[{"start":276.7,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780041270_1859.mp3"}