UK Government Faces Critical Challenges in AI Rollout for Public Services

A new report highlights outdated IT systems, poor data quality, and digital skills shortages as major hurdles to achieving the £45 billion potential of AI integration.

The Public Accounts Committee report reveals that 28% of central government IT systems are outdated and 33% of high-risk legacy systems lack funding for updates.
Poor data quality is cited as a major obstacle to effective AI adoption, which relies on accurate and high-quality data for decision-making processes.
The government has committed to doubling the number of tech experts in Whitehall and accelerating reforms to address these systemic issues.
Transparency concerns persist, with only 33 records published detailing AI's role in government decision-making, raising public trust issues.
The committee has set a six-month deadline for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to outline funding plans for replacing high-risk legacy systems.