AI Minister Liz Kendall Confirms She Does Not Use AI for Government Work
Liz Kendall, the cabinet minister responsible for Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, has confirmed she does not employ AI in her governmental role. This admission follows her announcement of a £500 million fund aimed at bolstering British AI companies, which she described as "crucial to our national security and economic prosperity."
Speaking from an AI-powered driverless car during an interview, Kendall stated her AI usage is limited to personal life, citing an instance where she used it to identify ingredients after an allergic reaction to face cream.
Her predecessor, Peter Kyle, had previously introduced a suite of government AI tools, dubbed "Humphrey," advocating that "No one should be wasting time on something AI can do quicker and better." However, this enthusiasm appears not to extend to all his cabinet colleagues.
Kendall acknowledged that government officials are expected to use such technologies, noting that staff in job centres at the Department for Work and Pensions utilise AI to refine CVs for jobseekers and to summarise consultation responses. She dismissed claims that AI is being used to draft British laws without public disclosure, asserting it has not contributed to her legislative work on social media and online safety.
Regarding the broader impact of AI, particularly on employment, Kendall stated, "jobs will be created, jobs will change, some jobs will go, but new ones will take their place." She highlighted a government initiative to offer free AI skills training to ten million people in the workforce. Despite a YouGov poll indicating 75% of Britons fear AI could threaten humanity, Kendall expressed no personal worries, believing its development is safe and likening the shift to previous industrial revolutions.
