UK government rollout of Humphrey AI tool raises fears about reliance on big tech
The government’s artificial intelligence (AI) tool known as Humphrey is based on models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, it can be revealed, raising questions about Whitehall’s increasing reliance on big tech.Ministers have staked the future of civil service reform on rolling out AI across the public sector to improve efficiency, with all officials in England and Wales to receive training in the toolkit.However, it is understood the government does not have overarching commercial agreements with the big tech companies on AI and uses a pay-as-you-go model through its existing cloud contracts, allowing it to swap through tools as they improve and become competitive.Critics are concerned about the speed and scale of embedding AI from big tech into the heart of government, especially when there is huge public debate about the technology’s use of copyrighted material.Ministers have been locked in a battle with critics in the House of Lords over whether AI is unfairly being trained on creative material without credit of compensation.
Its data bill allowing copyrighted material to be used unless the rights holder opts out passed its final stage this week in a defeat for those fighting for further protections.The issue has caused a fierce backlash from the creative sector, with artists including Elton John, Tom Stoppard, Paul McCartney and Kate Bush throwing their weight behind a campaign to protect copyrighted material.A freedom of information request showed the government’s Consult, Lex and Parlex tools designed to analyse consultations and legislative changes use base models from Open AI’s GPT, while its Redbox tool, which helps civil servants with everyday tasks such as preparing briefs, uses Open AI GPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Google Gemini.Ed Newton-Rex, the chief executive of Fairly Trained, who obtained the FoI and is campaigning against AI being trained on copyrighted material, said there was the potential for a conflict when the government was also thinking about how this sector should deal with copyright.He said: “The government can’t effectively regulate these companies if it is simultaneously baking them into its inner workings as rapidly as possible.
These AI models are built via the unpaid exploitation of creatives’ work.“AI makes a ton of mistakes, so we should expect these mistakes to start showing up in the government’s work.AI is so well known for ‘hallucinating’ – that is, getting things wrong – that I think the government should be keeping transparent records of Humphrey’s mistakes, so that its continuing use can be periodically reevaluated.”Shami Chakrabarti, the Labour peer and civil liberties campaigner, also urged caution and to be mindful of biases and inaccuracies such as those seen in the Horizon computer system that led to the miscarriage of justice for post office operators.Whitehall sources said Humphrey tools all worked in different ways, but users could take different approaches to tackling “hallucinations”, or inaccuracy, and the government continually publishes evaluations about the accuracy of technology in trials.
An AI playbook for government also sets out guidance to help officials make use of the technology quickly and offers advice on how to ensure people have control over decisions at the right stages.The costs of using AI in government are expected to grow as Humphrey is further rolled out but officials say prices of AI per-use in the industry have trended downwards, as models become more efficient.Whitehall sources said big projects such as the Scottish government’s use of AI to analyse consultation responses had cost less than £50 and saved many hours of work.Using the government’s AI Minute software to take notes for a one-hour meeting costs less than 50p and its early data shows that it saves officials an hour of admin each time.A spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “AI has immense potential to make public services more efficient by completing basic admin tasks, allowing experts to focus on the important work they are hired to deliver.
“Our use of this technology in no way limits our ability to regulate it, just as the NHS both procures medicines and robustly regulates them.“Humphrey, our package of AI tools for civil servants, is built by AI experts in government – keeping costs low as we experiment with what works best.”When the Guardian asked ChatGPT what base models were used for the Humphrey AI toolkit and if Open AI was involved, it replied that the information was not available.At the time the tool was announced earlier this year, the government said its strategy for spending £23bn a year on technology contracts would be changed, boosting opportunities for smaller tech startups.
Oxford Street will be pedestrianised as soon as possible, says London mayor
Sadiq Khan has said he will pedestrianise Oxford Street “as quickly as possible”, after two in three respondents to a public consultation backed plans to ban traffic from London’s central shopping area.The mayor’s office said there was “overwhelming public and business support” for the proposals to regenerate the street, whose lustre is slowly returning as department stores muscle back among the sweet and souvenir shops of dubious repute.More than 6,600 businesses, individuals and groups responded to the formal consultation on plans announced last year that included full pedestrianisation of a 0.7-mile strip west from Great Portland Street; improving the area; and allowing street cafes and outdoor events.Khan said: “Oxford Street has suffered over many years, so urgent action is needed to give our nation’s high street a new lease of life
Trump says UK is protected from tariffs ‘because I like them’ as trade deal is signed off
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have signed off a UK-US trade deal at the G7 summit in Canada, with the US president saying Britain would have protection against future tariffs “because I like them”.The two leaders presented the deal, which covers aerospace and the auto sector, at the G7 venue in Kananaskis, Alberta.Asked about steel by reporters, Trump said: “We’re going to let you have that information in a little while.”Under details released by the Department for Business and Trade, the UK aerospace sector will face no tariffs at all from the US, while the auto industry will have 10% tariffs, down from 25%.The steel industry still faces 25% tariffs for now, although this is less than the US’s global rate of 50% on steel and aluminium
Makers of air fryers and smart speakers told to respect users’ right to privacy
Makers of air fryers, smart speakers, fertility trackers and smart TVs have been told to respect people’s rights to privacy by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).People have reported feeling powerless to control how data is gathered, used and shared in their own homes and on their bodies.After reports of air fryers designed to listen in to their surroundings and public concerns that digitised devices collect an excessive amount of personal information, the data protection regulator has issued its first guidance on how people’s personal information should be handled.It is demanding that manufacturers and data handlers ensure data security, are transparent with consumers and ensure the regular deletion of collected information.Stephen Almond, the executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: “Smart products know a lot about us: who we live with, what music we like, what medication we are taking and much more
Liverpool is crypto capital of UK, survey finds
The city’s most famous sons may have sung that money can’t buy you love, but that was before bitcoin existed.Liverpool has emerged as the crypto capital of the UK, according to a study looking at the online habits of people across the country.The survey, conducted by telecommunications company Openreach, found that 13% of respondents from Liverpool regularly invest in cryptocurrency and check stocks, more than anywhere else in Britain.Different cities across the UK proved to be hotspots for various activities. London seems to be the online dating capital of Britain, with 24% of respondents saying they engage with dating apps on at least three days a week
Thunder move one win from first NBA title in 46 years after holding off Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one win of their first NBA championship in 46 years on Monday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 120–109 in Game 5 of the NBA finals to take a 3-2 series lead.Jalen Williams erupted for a career playoff-high 40 points, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists, and the Thunder held off a furious Indiana rally to secure a chance at clinching their first title since 1979 in Game 6 on Thursday in Indianapolis.It was the 10th time this postseason that Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams combined for more than 70 points in a game. Williams was 14-of-25 from the field and added six rebounds and four assists, including several key buckets late in the fourth as the Thunder weathered a Pacers push.ScheduleBest-of-seven-games series
Johnny Sexton insists he is ‘here to help’ Finn Russell despite past Lions criticism
Johnny Sexton has insisted he is “here to help” Finn Russell in his capacity as British & Irish Lions assistant coach, after the pair shook hands and cleared the air last month following the former Ireland captain’s previous criticism of the Scotland fly-half.Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017 but was a surprise omission from Warren Gatland’s squad in 2021. In his autobiography, the former Ireland captain revealed how the snub “kills me to this day” and described Russell as a “media darling” before suggesting in a subsequent interview that he was “flashy”.Sexton, who retired after the 2023 World Cup, was added in April to Andy Farrell’s coaching staff for the tour of Australia this summer, making for a potentially awkward reunion with Russell, who is the favourite to start at fly-half in the three-Test series against the Wallabies.The pair had a brief catch-up at the first squad get-together last month, however, with Russell explaining recently that the air had been cleared
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