AI and the future of work in the UK public sector

As the UK government increases investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven public services, public sector organisations have a pivotal opportunity to rethink how work gets done—and who it benefits.

AI’s potential to transform public sector processes is no longer theoretical. Across local councils, NHS trusts, and central departments, AI and automation are already helping teams handle routine queries, triage citizen requests, and streamline casework. But the opportunity goes far beyond efficiency. With thoughtful adoption, AI can make government work more rewarding, more impactful, and more strategic—for both employees and the constituents they serve.

Ahead of techUK’s upcoming webinar “AI and the Future of Work in the Public Sector”, we invite you to join the conversation on what comes next: how public sector leaders, practitioners, and technologists can shape an AI-powered future that works for everyone.

Making work more meaningful

According to a Gallup Poll cited in Lost Connections by Johann Hari, 87% of workers across 142 countries say they are either “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” in their jobs. This signals a profound disconnect between employees and their work—one that AI can help bridge.

In the public sector, AI technologies such as intelligent document processing, natural language assistants, and data analysis tools can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, enabling staff to focus on high-value, human-centered work. NHS staff using voice recognition to streamline clinical notes, or local government officers using AI to prioritise social care cases, are early examples of this shift.

When implemented with care, AI can boost job satisfaction by returning purpose, creativity, and autonomy to roles that have become overly burdened by process.

From pilot to scale: unlocking public value

The UK government’s latest manifesto calls for increased spending on AI and the creation of a National Data Library to support the delivery of smarter, data-driven services. For public sector leaders, the question is no longer if AI should be adopted—but how to scale it responsibly and equitably.

Key benefits to prioritise include improved service delivery, faster decision-making, and better use of public data. Citizens feel these improvements directly through quicker access to services, reduced wait times, and more accurate and fair outcomes across everything from benefits processing to healthcare referrals. But the risks of AI adoption must also be acknowledged—from data bias and ethical concerns to the potential for workforce disruption if employees are not engaged early and often in the transformation journey.

That’s why it’s critical to bring staff along as partners in the process. Co-designing solutions, investing in digital skills, and clearly communicating the “why” behind AI initiatives are essential to creating trust and momentum.

Join the conversation

In our upcoming webinar, experts working at the intersection of AI and public service delivery will share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and a vision for what’s possible. From reimagining roles to scaling proven solutions, the session will offer valuable insights for leaders across central government, local authorities, and the NHS.

Sponsor:

Hyperscience empowers government departments to modernise manual-time-consuming tasks into automated, streamlined workflows that enable them to make data-driven decisions faster, more accurately, and at scale. The efficiency gains Hyperscience delivers directly correlate to better experiences for employees, who are empowered to focus on higher-value tasks and make more impactful contributions, and for citizens, who benefit from faster, higher quality, and more reliable government services. A large UK tax authority improved citizen service delivery by using Hyperscience to automate the processing of handwritten forms. This innovation reduced the cost to serve, eased the administrative burden on the department, and ensured faster, more accurate resolution of citizen monetary claims. By embracing automation, the department achieved significant gains in efficiency while maintaining a focus on delivering exceptional service to the public. As public sector departments increasingly adopt AI to power systems, they seek greater certainty in decisions and actions delivered. Certainty depends on accuracy. Accuracy depends on Hyperscience - built with advanced machine learning and human-centered automation to extract, validate, and apply data with 99.5% accuracy, fueling AI-driven insights, improving compliance, and ensuring government agencies operate at peak efficiency.

Central Government Programme activities

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