Officials create a security risk by using artificial intelligence to write and answer parliamentary questions, deputies warn.
The AI Microsoft Copilot assistant, one of the largest parts in AI technology, is already used to write parliamentary responses from Foreign Office.
Sir Keir Starmer wants to stimulate the taking of AI in Whitehall, but the conservative deputy Peter Bedford said: “The use of AI to answer questions asks a security risk.
“The way AI works is that it shares information with itself but can be used all over the world.
We must be sure that sensitive information has not entered AI and transmitted around the world.
“The deputies also deserve clear and thoughtful answers to their questions, not only to copy and stick the jobs of the AI.”
The Department of Labor and Pensions, the Department of Affairs and Trade and the Department of Sciences, Innovation and Technology also use AI to help staff answer questions.
The AI assistant AI Microsoft Copilot, one of the largest parts in AI technology, is already used to write parliamentary responses from Foreign Office
Sir Keir Starmer wants to stimulate the taking of AI in Whitehall, but the conservative deputy Peter Bedford said: “The use of AI to answer questions asks a security risk
Conservative deputy Sir John Hayes said that politics was “appalling” and struck at the heart of the government process. He told the mail on Sunday that this could lead to serious problems such as the Horizon IT system scandal.
“We have seen in recent history what is happening when the machine is reliable on humans,” he said.
“You end up with the Horizon IT scandal from the post office. This is a slippery slope.
“Ministers must urgently ensure the public, this is not the start of the end of personal responsibility for the answers given to questions in the municipalities.”
The spokesperson for the department have confirmed that AI is used, but insist that any parliamentary question answered using AI is examined by an official and signed by a minister before the publication. Mr. Bedford has only been informed “a small proportion of staff from the Ministry of Affairs and Trade” uses AI technology. It is used to “support the writing process” to answer written parliamentary questions.
A spokesperson for the Business and Trade Department declared on Sunday at the email: “The ministers and experienced officials remain entirely responsible for the drafting and compensation for all the official responses and correspondence to the Parliament”.
Announcing that new AI and technology teams will be sent to the services to `Turbo-charge ” to Whitehall, Sir Keir said:` `Time of anyone should be devoted to a task where digital or AI can do it better, more quickly and to the same quality and standard.