AI Minister Liz Kendall Does Not Use AI Professionally
Liz Kendall, the cabinet minister responsible for Artificial Intelligence (AI), has disclosed that she does not utilize AI technology in her professional duties.
This week, the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary announced a £500 million fund dedicated to supporting British AI companies, emphasizing its importance for national security and economic growth.
However, during an interview conducted inside an AI-powered driverless car for BBC Radio 5 Live and Newsnight, Kendall stated that she primarily uses AI in her personal life, citing an instance where she employed AI after experiencing an allergic reaction to a face cream.
Government AI Initiatives and Usage
One year prior, her predecessor Peter Kyle introduced a suite of government AI tools named "Humphrey," inspired by the character from the BBC sitcom Yes, Minister. Kyle remarked at the time,
"No one should be wasting time on something AI can do quicker and better."
Despite this, some cabinet members have been less enthusiastic about AI integration.
Kendall admitted,
"Well, I use AI personally rather than at work, I've got to be honest. I'm much more likely to use it in my personal life."
Nonetheless, government employees are expected to incorporate AI into their work. Kendall noted that during her tenure at the Department for Work and Pensions, job centre staff utilized AI to rewrite CVs for jobseekers and to summarize responses to government consultations.
Claims About AI Writing Legislation
The New Statesman recently reported that British laws are already being drafted by AI but claimed that the government decided not to disclose this usage publicly.
Kendall refuted this assertion, stating,
"It's certainly not written any of my laws that we're doing around social media and online safety."
Personal Use of AI by Kendall
Describing her recent personal use of AI, the Labour MP explained,
"Do you want to know the last thing I used it for?... I can't believe I'm about to say this... I got an allergic reaction to something. I'd put on some probably expensive and pointless potion I had to pay to put on my face.
"I got AI to go through the ingredients of all the products. Because you know there's so many of them really, to identify was there one that was common between the three, and to suggest something I could put on to stop this eczema that had come up.
"I checked the sources, it came from the National Eczema Society, I went to the pharmacist, I asked her for her best cream, she named the same one, I bought it, it worked."
Government Investment in AI
The government's Sovereign AI unit is a venture capital fund that will invest £500 million of public funds into British AI companies.
The driverless car demonstration, conducted by UK firm Wayve, was intended to showcase the potential of AI-powered technology as perceived by the minister.
Concerns Over Job Impact
There are concerns regarding the impact of AI on employment. Last year, London had 123,000 licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, with 381,000 across England, whose jobs could be threatened by driverless cars.
Kendall acknowledged these concerns, stating,
"I think we've got to level with people that, you know, jobs will be created, jobs will change, some jobs will go, but new ones will take their place.
"I really understand why people are worried about the impact on jobs. We're offering 10 million people in the workforce, that's our goal, free AI skills because we think that's really important for the future.
"But I believe that it's probably likely to be a combination isn't it, people will still want to drive."
Public Concerns About AI
Some have expressed apprehension about AI's potential threats. A YouGov poll conducted last year found that 75% of Britons are concerned AI could pose a threat to humanity.
When asked if she had any worries about AI technology, Kendall responded,
"No, I think that how it is developing is safe. We obviously have to think through the implications for jobs."
She further added,
"I'm not an engineer or a computer scientist, I am a historian and you can see from previous industrial and technological revolutions each time this sort of transition in the jobs, some lost, new ones created.
"The key question for me is: what is government's role?
"And our belief is we shouldn't just leave people to cope with this inevitable jobs transition on their own. We need to upskill the nation."
for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
