A cohort of AI specialists will work with the government on using the technology to improve public services in a programme backed by a $1m (£730,000) investment from Meta.
The AI fellows will coordinate with the Alan Turing Institute on the project that will take place over the next year. These fellows will develop open-source AI tools designed to tackle the biggest challenges faced by public services.
One such area is transport. The AI experts have been tasked with developing models to analyse images and videos to help councils prioritise infrastructure repairs.
“A digital world needs a modern, digital government. That is why we are enlisting the homegrown talent we already have to elevate our public services,” said Minister for Data and Modern Digital Government Ian Murray.
“Having met the fellows I know they will play a pivotal role in re-wiring our healthcare, police, transport systems and more, to make sure hardworking people benefit from the opportunities that only technologies like AI can deliver.”
Specialists are also expected to develop AI solutions to support national security and defence teams.
“Meta is proud to help bring top British AI talent into government, fast-tracking the transformation of public services,” said Rob Sherman, VP and deputy chief privacy officer, policy, at Meta.
“Advanced AI is already woven into daily life—powering the UK’s economy, driving innovation, and enhancing quality of life for citizens. By placing AI experts at the heart of government institutions, we’re accelerating meaningful change and ensuring these benefits reach everyone”
Additionally, the government has launched a new partnership with US group Anthropic to build a dedicated AI assistant for public services that could offer support in areas such as job-seeking by providing personalised career advice.
“We’re excited to partner with the UK government to help deliver on the AI Opportunities Action Plan,” said Pip White, head of UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at Anthropic.
“This partnership with the UK government is central to our mission. It demonstrates how frontier AI can be deployed safely for the public benefit, setting the standard for how governments integrate AI into the services their citizens depend on.”
