With the UK election just around the corner, Microsoft has unveiled a new report detailing the significant potential of artificial intelligence in the public sector.
The study highlights how AI could alleviate the administrative burden associated with public sector workloads by improving efficiency and worker satisfaction, offering solutions to ensure the technology progresses.
According to Microsoft's report “Harnessing the Power of AI for the Public Sector,” each public sector worker could save more than four hours a week by using AI to speed up administrative tasks.
Microsoft wants the next British government to improve support for AI
With approximately 5.93 million public sector workers in the UK, Microsoft estimates that the country's economy could be losing 23 million hours each week due to poor efficiency.
Among the key findings is that administrative workload is seriously affecting both the effectiveness and motivation of workers, and more than half of respondents reported that excessive administrative tasks are decreasing their job performance (55%) and their satisfaction (54%).
With the average worker spending eight hours a week managing information and data, around half say the quality of the service they provide has been compromised (48%) and the time they can spend with the public or patients has been reduced. seen affected (49%). .
Microsoft has issued no fewer than seven recommendations to Britain's next government to make up for lost time and boost the economy, including the formation of a National AI Delivery Center responsible for driving AI adoption across the world. government departments.
Among other recommendations, the tech giant also wants the UK to implement a comprehensive upskilling strategy and introduce a set of AI guiding principles.
Microsoft External Affairs Vice President Hugh Milward summarized: “If AI is effectively deployed across public services and the administrative burden is reduced, there is enormous potential to enable frontline public sector workers to spend more of their time. your critical time to provide first-line services. work.”
