UCL Uncovering Politics
AI and Public Services
Feb 13, 2025
Helen Margetts, a leading expert on society and the internet, Cosmina Dorobantu, co-director at the Alan Turing Institute, and Jonathan Bright, head of AI safety, discuss the transformative potential of AI in public services. They explore how AI can enhance efficiency while tackling concerns about equity and historical tech failures. The conversation touches on the importance of automating decisions, the risks of bias in AI, and the pressing need for gender representation in tech. Together, they emphasize a balanced approach to integrating AI that prioritizes public benefit.
42:48
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Quick takeaways
- AI has the potential to enhance public sector productivity, but must be balanced with equity to avoid increasing disparities.
- The history of technology in public services highlights the need for in-house expertise and careful consideration of fairness and bias in AI implementation.
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Opportunities in AI for Public Services
AI has significant potential to improve public sector productivity amidst financial constraints. The public sector in the UK employs around 6 million people and contributes about 20% to the economy, which indicates that productivity enhancements could yield substantial economic benefits. Current discussions emphasize the necessity to integrate productivity gains with equity, as focusing solely on efficiency can lead to increased disparities. Therefore, efforts must be made to strike a balance between improving public service delivery through AI while ensuring equitable access to these advancements.
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