Three Ways Public Sector Organisations Can Get Ahead of the AI Opportunities Action Plan

How does the UK become an Artificial Intelligence superpower? Before you begin punching that question into your Generative AI of choice, let me direct you to the AI Opportunities Action Plan in which Chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, Matt Clifford CBE, sets out 50 recommendations to put the UK at the front of the AI queue. 

The new Government commissioned Clifford to produce the plan as one of its first acts last summer - a clear indication that they are alert to the positive impacts that this exciting new technology offers the UK to address its longstanding productivity challenges in both the public and private sector.  A comprehensive piece of work, the Plan sets out 50 recommendations, and in the Government response, published at the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, have indicated that each of the stated recommendations will be acted upon. Their commitment is underlined with the Prime Minister’s statement when launching the plan that his Government intends to “mainline AI into the UK economy”.  

Clifford’s report recognises that we’re at a critical point when it comes to deciding the global winners and losers of the AI revolution, and his recommendations cover a range of economic levers, from making it easier to build out the necessary infrastructure for the UK to develop and deploy AI to ensuring researchers have access to the compute power they need to carry out their work,  as well as measures to encourage takeup of AI by British businesses and public services. In Clifford’s words, “business as usual is not an option”. We’re not on the cusp of change, the future of work is already taking shape around us.

One of the core principles set out in the plan is a Scan, Pilot, Scale approach to implementing new AI innovations for the public sector. It’s hoped this will help public sector organisations realise value from new technologies faster. But I think there are three quicker shortcuts…

1. Embrace Existing AI Capabilities

While the allure of new AI tools is undeniable, public sector organisations should take a closer look at their existing software licenses. Gartner predicts that more than 80% of enterprises will have used generative AI APIs or deployed generative AI-enabled applications by 2026. Many current software platforms which are already installed in public bodies have existing AI capabilities that are lying dormant, just waiting to be activated. By first using these existing tools and applying them to familiar datasets, organisations can quickly and confidently harness the power of AI. This approach not only unlocks the power of AI faster, but you’re using trusted AI and a clean data set that you can have faith in.

2. Fix What’s in Front of You 

Rather than playing in the AI sandpit, the application of AI to existing processes is where you’re really going to see quantifiable benefits. Automating job description creation, for example, saves time and resources. The average job description takes one to two hours to write. With help from generative AI this can be whittled down to a few minutes.  In fact, research from McKinsey suggests that generative AI could automate tasks accounting for up to 30% of work hours by 2030, while a recent study by Workday found that AI could unlock £119 billion worth of productivity gains annually across the UK.

For public sector organisations, that’s time and resource that can be reassigned to serving citizens, or navigating the economic challenges facing the country, both of which can help deliver better value for money to UK taxpayers.

3. The SaaS Advantage

The benefits of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions have been obvious for some time. But in the current context they really shine. Saas solutions present an open door to the AI revolution and put you continuously on the front foot as we work through a period of significant change. Put simply, you don’t need to upgrade to get the benefits of AI. You know you’re accessing the latest AI advancements and that you’re constantly at the forefront of technological innovation. Public sector organisations need to get themselves on a contemporary platform if they want to ride the AI wave.

There has been a palpable sense of excitement around the UK's AI Opportunities Action Plan, not least because it strikes a welcome optimistic note about what the future could hold that’s been missing for a while. But also because it’s a catalyst for real change amongst public sector organisations that we continuously ask to do more with less. As the government recognises, AI is the key that can unlock new efficiencies, drive innovation, and help deliver better services to citizens. The time to act is now.

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