The UK government is going to introduce an AI tool to make public consultations faster
A new system will analyze responses 1,000 times faster than a human and save millions of pounds, according to government ministers.
For the first time, an AI tool has been used to review public responses to a government consultation, and it will soon be used more widely to save money and time.
The tool, called “Consult,” was first used by the Scottish government when it asked for opinions on regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments like lip fillers.
The UK government said the tool analyzed responses and produced results just like human officials, and it will now be used to review responses from other consultations, with more improvements to come.
While reviewing over 2,000 responses, Consult identified important themes, which were then checked and improved by experts in the Scottish government.
The government created Consult as part of a new group of AI tools, called “Humphrey,” which they say will help speed up work in the government and reduce consulting costs.
They believe that, for the 500 consultations held every year, the tool will save taxpayers £20 million annually and save around 75,000 hours of government workers’ time.
Michael Rovatsos, a professor of artificial intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, said the tool could bring big benefits, but the risk of bias affecting the AI should not be ignored.
“While the idea is that a human will always check things, in reality, people don’t always have time to check every time, and that’s when mistakes and biases can happen.”
Rovatsos also said that “bad actors,” both local and foreign, could affect the AI’s accuracy by giving it wrong instructions.
“You’ll need to invest in making sure the systems are safe and strong, which will take time and money,” he said.
“I think making sure the benefits are unlocked and the risks are avoided will need more investment and learning than it might seem at first. There’s a risk that government officials might think this is a quick way to save money, but doing it properly is important and difficult.”
The government says that Consult will work 1,000 times faster than a person and be 400 times cheaper, with results very similar to what experts would say but much faster.
At the launch of Consult, technology secretary Peter Kyle said it would save “millions” for taxpayers.
“No one should waste time on things AI can do faster and better, or waste millions of taxpayer money on hiring contractors for the same work.”
“After showing great results, Humphrey will help us cut the costs of governing and make it easier to gather and review what experts and the public say about important issues.”
“The Scottish government has made an important first step. Soon, I’ll be using Consult in my department, and others in Whitehall will use it too – speeding up our work to deliver the plan for change.”
There is no set date for when Consult will be used in government work, as it’s still in the testing phase, but it’s expected to be in use by the end of 2025.
Published: 14th May 2025
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