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Members of Parliament are cautioning that civil servants are posing a security threat by employing artificial intelligence for composing and responding to parliamentary inquiries.
The AI assistant Microsoft One of the most significant pieces of AI technology, Copilot, is already being utilized by the Foreign Office for drafting parliamentary replies.
Sir Keir Starmer aims to increase the adoption of AI in Whitehall, however, Conservative MP Peter Bedford commented, “Utilizing AI for answering queries presents a security hazard.”
‘The way AI works is it shares information with itself but can be used anywhere in the world.
It is essential to ensure that confidential data is not entered into artificial intelligence systems or sent around the globe.
'MPs should receive well-thought-out and clear answers to their questions, rather than generic replies generated by artificial intelligence.'
The Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, along with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, are each utilizing AI to assist their employees in answering queries.
Conservative Member of Parliament Sir John Hayes described the policy as 'disastrous' and believed it would severely impact the functioning of governance. He informed The Mail on Sunday that this might result in significant issues similar to those caused by the Post Office’s Horizon computer system controversy.
‘We have seen in recent history what happens when the machine is trusted over the human,’ he said.
'Ultimately, you're faced with the Post Office's Horizon IT scandal. It's a precarious situation.'
'Politicians must quickly reassure everyone that this situation does not mark the start of people shirking their responsibilities regarding the responses provided in Parliament.'
The department’s representatives have acknowledged the utilization of artificial intelligence; however, they maintain that all answers to parliamentary inquiries generated through AI undergo examination by a public official and final approval from a minister prior to release. Mr. Bedford learned that merely 'a limited number of personnel within the Department of Business and Trade' employ AI technologies. This tool assists primarily in formulating responses to written parliamentary queries during their preparation phase.
A spokesperson from the Department for Business and Trade informed The Mail on Sunday, "All official replies and communications in Parliament are solely the responsibility of ministers and seasoned civil servants."
Sir Keir announced that new AI and technology teams will be deployed across various departments to 'supercharge' AI implementation in Whitehall. He stated, "Nobody's time should be wasted on tasks when digital tools or artificial intelligence can perform them more efficiently, faster, and with equal precision."
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