Making AI Work for UK's Public Services: Lessons from New York City's Chief Technology Officer

As the UK heads to the polls next month with Labour's Keir Starmer predicted to succeed Rishi Sunak, it’s crucial to consider AI’s potential in government and public services. Sunak deserves credit for starting to explore AI, but the next Prime Minister needs to grab the opportunity and could draw inspiration from New York City under Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser's leadership.

The Path Forward for the UK

I recently attended the AI Summit in London, where I briefly spoke with Matthew Fraser and heard his inspiring speech. This experience highlighted AI's potential to revolutionise the public sector. While London and Manchester have seen significant AI development, efforts need acceleration across the entire country.

Learning from New York City's AI Integration

MyCity Portal and AI Chatbots: One of Fraser's notable initiatives is the MyCity portal, an AI-driven platform that centralises access to city services. The portal’s AI chatbot aids business owners and the public in navigating regulations, obtaining permits, and accessing vital resources, simplifying bureaucratic processes.

Call to Action - National and Regional AI Portals: Develop AI-driven portals similar to MyCity to streamline access to government services across the UK.? The UK is not starting from scratch. Enhancing the gov.uk portal with AI capabilities, similar to New York's MyCity portal, can significantly improve access to government services. The groundwork for such enhancements is likely already being laid, indicating a promising future for AI integration across UK government services.?

Supporting Local Councils and Towns: Many regional councils, cities, and towns in the UK are financially on their knees and don't have the luxury of stepping back to see the bigger picture and develop AI tools.

Adopting a centralised approach to develop AI technologies and distribute them to local councils can offer crucial support to these financially strapped regions. By leveraging centralised resources, councils can implement advanced AI solutions without bearing the high costs of development and deployment themselves. This approach ensures that all regions, particularly those facing financial challenges, can equally benefit from AI advancements, thereby enhancing efficiency and service delivery across the UK.

Drones and other AI in Public Safety: New York's use of AI-driven drones for rapid emergency response and robotics for monitoring public safety illustrates technology's potential to enhance urban efficiency and responsiveness. Similar AI strategies could improve UK cities' emergency responses.

Call to Action - AI-Enhanced Public Safety: UK police forces are already integrating AI technologies like drones and robotics to enhance citywide emergency responses. Generative AI could further streamline administrative tasks, allowing officers to focus more on patrol and community safety.

Open Data Programs: New York City uses AI to analyse and share public information, promoting transparency in government actions. Open data allows anyone to access and understand government decisions better, fostering trust and accountability.

Call to Action - Transparent Open Data Initiatives: The UK should utilise AI to expand open data programs, making government data more accessible and understandable. AI's ability to analyse data swiftly and predict trends can empower public participation and hold officials accountable.

By learning from New York City’s innovations under Fraser's guidance, the UK can drive governance innovation and improve citizens' quality of life through efficient, responsive, and secure services. This comprehensive approach is vital for the next UK leadership to seize the opportunity and lead the nation into an AI-driven future.

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Bio

Peter Heneghan is the founder of The Future Communicator an AI and communications consultancy helping in-house teams no matter where they are on their AI journey.?

He previously held senior communications roles at BBC News, Channel 4, BuzzFeed, and 10 Downing Street.

Website:? www.thefuturecommunicator.com?

Citations:

Mayor Adams Releases First-of-Its-Kind Plan for Responsible Artificial Intelligence Use in City of New York - Link

New York’s Drones & Robotics AI Summit Ushers In A Growing Automation Industry – AlleyWatch - Link