The UK government is eager to deploy AI — if it can only get over public trust issues

The UK government is actively pursuing artificial intelligence initiatives while simultaneously shifting its focus from AI safety to security, as evidenced by recent policy decisions and international positions. This strategic pivot comes at a time when public trust in UK government institutions remains low, scoring just 42.3 on Forrester’s 100-point trust scale.

Recent policy shifts: The UK government has declined to sign a 60-country international AI agreement and rebranded its AI Safety Institute to the AI Security Institute, signaling a clear prioritization of security concerns over broader safety considerations.

• The government cited inadequate addressing of global AI governance and national security issues as reasons for not signing the international agreement
• The AI Security Institute’s new focus emphasizes cybersecurity while de-emphasizing previous priorities like societal impacts and individual welfare
• This represents a significant departure from the UK’s previous position as a champion of comprehensive AI safety measures

Public sector initiatives: The UK government has launched ambitious plans to integrate AI across government services through strategic partnerships and guidelines.

• A new partnership with Anthropic will leverage their Claude language models to develop public service chatbots
• Over 50 different AI initiatives are planned across various government sectors, including scientific research and policy-making
• The government has released an AI Playbook, though it has been criticized as providing only basic principles despite the scope of planned AI implementation

Trust challenges: Current low trust levels in UK government institutions could significantly impact the success of AI initiatives.

• Forrester research indicates that strong institutional trust yields social, economic, and reputational benefits
• The UK government’s current trust score of 42.3 out of 100 suggests potential challenges in implementing AI solutions
• Public sector organizations are advised to establish comprehensive trustworthy frameworks for AI projects and design applications that specifically address trust gaps

Strategic recommendations: Key priorities have emerged for successful AI implementation in the UK public sector.

• The new AI playbook should be supplemented with additional risk frameworks, potentially including principles from the EU AI Act
• Government agencies need to understand and address specific trust drivers among UK citizens
• Partners and public servants must develop targeted strategies to build and maintain citizen trust throughout AI implementation

Looking ahead – balancing ambition with accountability: While the UK government’s enthusiasm for AI adoption is promising, the success of these initiatives will likely hinge on establishing robust trust frameworks and maintaining transparency with citizens about AI implementation and security measures.