The government is accelerating its adoption of AI to boost economic growth, supported by Meta, the parent company of Facebook. A $1m scheme will be announced today to hire up to 10 AI experts to facilitate the integration of this technology. Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized the importance of utilizing AI in his plan for change to enhance the UK’s development, suggesting potential savings and efficiencies in the tens of billions.
The government aims for these new hires to address various challenges such as translating classified documents in bulk, expediting planning applications, and aiding in emergency responses during power or internet outages. The funding for these roles is provided by Meta through the Alan Turing Institute, with advertisements set to go live next week and the fellowships expected to commence in early 2026.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle lauded the fellowship as a practical application of AI for the public good, emphasizing the importance of tangible tools that enhance government operations. The projects will be based on open-source models, minimizing licensing costs for the government. Meta’s AI model, Llama, is described as open source, although there are debates around its eligibility due to undisclosed parts of its code base. Facebook has also sponsored studies exploring the benefits of government adopting open-source AI tools.
Mr. Kyle’s Department for Science and Technology has been actively promoting AI uptake within government, with initiatives like the artificial intelligence «incubator» under which these fellowships fall. Caddy, a tool developed in collaboration with Citizens Advice to aid call center workers in faster document searches, has been a successful AI implementation across government, showcasing improved productivity and decision-making abilities. A trial indicated that it could reduce call waiting times by half.
Furthermore, Mr. Kyle recently announced a partnership with Google to provide technical support to the government and aid in data modernization efforts. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, highlighted the role of open-source AI models in driving scientific and medical breakthroughs, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize public service delivery.
Jean Innes, head of the Alan Turing Institute, praised the fellowship program for connecting AI experts with real-world challenges faced by public services, offering an innovative approach to problem-solving. The collaboration with ATI is seen as a means to access top talent and cutting-edge technology to tackle significant challenges in an open and public-interest-oriented manner.
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