Value for Money
Use of artificial intelligence in government
Published 15 March 2024
10 recommendations
Cross-government, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, HM Treasury
Digital transformationDigital, data and technologyInnovation in deliveryProject and service delivery
nao.org.uk
AI presents the government with opportunities to transform public services potentially delivering billions of pounds in productivity savings.
Recommendations (10)
Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker
Cabinet Office
Rec 1
Accepted
Work in Progress
To deliver on its strategy for public sector AI adoption, the Cabinet Office should:
Develop an integrated and feasible implementation plan building on individual departmental AI adoption plans and identifying common and scalable applications. It should assess the ability of the integrated plan to deliver the large-scale productivity gains it has identified.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Rec 10
Partially Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should work with the government functions to review existing guidance, government standards and assurance processes to ensure they adequately address the opportunities and risks of AI use and provide sufficient levers to promote safe and responsible use of AI across government, including reviewing:
in collaboration with DSIT, compliance with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. This should include assessing its impact, and considering whether further levers are needed to support its implementation.
Cabinet Office
Rec 2
Accepted
Work in Progress
To deliver on its strategy for public sector AI adoption, the Cabinet Office should:
Identify and publish performance metrics and supporting monitoring arrangements that reflect the strategy?s desired outcomes to promote transparency and accountability for delivery.
Cabinet Office
Rec 3
Partially Accepted
Work in Progress
To deliver on its strategy for public sector AI adoption, the Cabinet Office should:
In collaboration with DSIT, assess the new strategy and governance arrangements to make sure they are fit for purpose and ensure effective coordination with DSIT-led AI policy for the wider economy, and review them within a year of implementation, making any changes needed.
Cabinet Office
Rec 4
Partially Accepted
Work in Progress
The Cabinet Office should establish how government can bring together and share accessible insights from cross-government activity to identify, prioritise and test scalable AI opportunities in the public sector, including working with DSIT to leverage the wider research landscape such as UKRI's programmes.
Cabinet Office
Rec 5
Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should continue to prioritise the 2022-2025 roadmap for digital and data, to address the legacy IT infrastructure and data quality and access barriers to adoption of AI, and ensure future plans maintain continued focus on addressing the risks that these issues pose for sustainable AI deployment.
Cabinet Office
Rec 6
Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should work with the government functions to review existing guidance, government standards and assurance processes to ensure they adequately address the opportunities and risks of AI use and provide sufficient levers to promote safe and responsible use of AI across government, including reviewing:
the assurance controls for digital and technology spend
Cabinet Office
Rec 7
Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should work with the government functions to review existing guidance, government standards and assurance processes to ensure they adequately address the opportunities and risks of AI use and provide sufficient levers to promote safe and responsible use of AI across government, including reviewing:
arrangements for providing independent technical assurance for procured AI.
Cabinet Office
Rec 8
Partially Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should work with the government functions to review existing guidance, government standards and assurance processes to ensure they adequately address the opportunities and risks of AI use and provide sufficient levers to promote safe and responsible use of AI across government, including reviewing:
in collaboration with the Government Analysis Function, how proposed updates to guidance on quality assurance and use of AI in analysis can be aligned with CDDO?s wider guidance on the use of AI.
Cabinet Office
Rec 9
Partially Accepted
Work in Progress
CDDO should work with the government functions to review existing guidance, government standards and assurance processes to ensure they adequately address the opportunities and risks of AI use and provide sufficient levers to promote safe and responsible use of AI across government, including reviewing:
in collaboration with DSIT, alignment of government standards with global AI standards where appropriate.