Whitehall brings in private sector AI workers to boost digital skills

The UK government is set to bring in leading AI and data experts from the private sector to catapult tech skills and innovation into government departments, according to cabinet office minister Jeremy Quin.

The plan involves a digital secondment programme comprising of experts from top tech businesses who will be given temporary placements within the civil service to help boost productivity.

The first scheme – due to start in the autumn – involves the way digital and data is utilised in government departments.

According to Quin, the government will work with the major tech players, with plans to target FTSE100 companies in order to second digital experts into departments as well as giving civil servants the chance to spend time working within industry-leading businesses.

The program will then be expanded to other sectors such as science and engineering.

Another related initiative is the creation of a Data Marketplace which will break down barriers to sharing data inside government, with further plans to make the Marketplace available to third parties such as researchers and businesses by 2025.

In a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank, Quin said: “There are brilliant people in our Civil Service, but I know there are many, as can be the case in any organisation, that feel stifled by bureaucracy.

Quin also called for “more specialisation, more access to outside voices and fresh ideas.”

According to John Kirk, deputy CEO at technology marketing agency Team ITG, working on upskilling and providing opportunities to improve digital skills in areas such as data and AI was key to accelerating business operations.

Kirk added that combining efforts from the private sector, tech experts and the government will help accelerate digital skills, which will drive the overall economy, and bolster confidence in AI usage.

“The creative industries, with confidence, will be able to enhance campaigns on a global scale, working hand-in-hand with innovative tech,” said Kirk.

Derek Mackenzie, CEO at Investigo, a global skills provider, added that tech experts and the government should oversee AI’s increased usage and continue to highlight how businesses should follow best practice.

“For that to be maximised, upskilling workforces in data and AI is important, and businesses should evaluate how they can recruit and train highly skilled staff.”

The news comes amid a global group of AI experts and data scientists creating a new voluntary framework for the safe development of AI, led by The World Ethical Data Foundation.

The 25,000 members, who work at tech giants including Meta and Google, have put together an 84-point checklist for developers to consider before starting an AI project to encourage the trustworthy development of AI.

The United Nations Security Council also held its first meeting on AI on Tuesday where China said the technology should not become a “runaway horse” and the US warned against its use to censor or repress people.