Recently, UK Technology Minister Peter Kyle acknowledged that government departments lack transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms, leading to public unease about the application of these technologies.
Since the government announced that it would mandate all departments to register their use of AI systems, not a single Whitehall department has completed this registration. This has raised alarms about the deployment of algorithmic technologies in the public sector that impact millions of lives, with warnings that they are acting "blindly."
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney
Currently, the government has applied AI in several areas, including welfare payments and immigration enforcement. Records show that public institutions have signed dozens of contracts for AI and algorithm services with various tech companies. For example, the Home Office recently issued a contract for facial recognition software worth up to £20 million, raising concerns about "mass biometric surveillance." However, to date, only nine algorithmic systems have been registered in the public registry, with none including welfare systems, Home Office, or police AI programs.
Experts warn that a lack of critical thinking regarding the use of AI could pose potential harms. The number of registered algorithmic systems at institutions like the Cabinet Office, Cambridge City, and the NHS is extremely limited. Nonetheless, since February of this year, there have been 164 contracts involving AI signed with public institutions, indicating a strong demand for AI technology.
Kyle stated that the public has the right to know about the government's use of algorithms and promised to enhance transparency. Privacy advocacy organization Big Brother Watch pointed out that the government's lack of transparency in using AI technology could jeopardize the public's data rights. Recently, the Ada Lovelace Institute warned that while AI systems may seem to reduce administrative burdens, if their outcomes are discriminatory or ineffective, they could actually undermine public trust.
Currently, only three algorithms are recorded in the national register, used for identifying digital records, analyzing pedestrian crossings, and evaluating patient feedback on NHS services. Tech companies like Microsoft and Google Cloud are actively promoting their AI systems, claiming that broader AI deployment could lead to significant savings for the public sector. Kyle also mentioned that this technology could have a revolutionary impact on government services.
Across various government departments, the application of AI is becoming increasingly common. For instance, the Department for Work and Pensions is using generative AI to process large volumes of documents and automatically detect fraud and errors in welfare applications. Meanwhile, the Home Office has deployed an AI-driven immigration enforcement system, although the government emphasizes that this is not a typical machine learning system.
Key Points:
🔍 The UK government has failed to register any AI systems, raising public concerns about transparency.
💼 AI technology is widely used in welfare payments and immigration enforcement, but records are severely lacking.
📈 Experts warn of potential harms posed by AI and call for increased transparency and regulation.