The UK government has unveiled a new artificial intelligence system designed to process public consultation responses at unprecedented speed, promising to revolutionize policymaking by dramatically cutting analysis time and operational costs.
The AI tool, developed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is reportedly capable of reviewing and categorizing thousands of citizen submissions in minutes a process that traditionally takes civil servants weeks or even months.
“This is a landmark step in modernizing how government listens,” said Cabinet Office Minister Hannah Malin. “AI allows us to extract insight quickly, identify patterns, and act on public feedback with greater responsiveness.”
The technology can reportedly analyze responses up to 1,000 times faster than traditional manual methods. It uses natural language processing to detect themes, flag controversial inputs, and organize feedback for policymakers in real-time.
Officials estimate the system could save the public sector millions of pounds annually, while also accelerating the pace of policy development. Departments handling complex or large-scale reforms such as health, education, and energy are expected to pilot the tool starting this summer.
However, the initiative has already raised concerns among privacy advocates and transparency watchdogs, who warn that automated processing may oversimplify or misrepresent nuanced public opinions.
“AI can’t replace human judgment in matters of democratic input,” said Lucy Bradshaw, director at Civil Voice UK. “There must be clear accountability for how this technology is used, especially in contentious consultations.”
The government has assured the public that human oversight will remain central to the process, with AI used to assist not replace policy teams.
The system also comes amid broader efforts by the UK to position itself as a global leader in ethical AI governance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to highlight the initiative at the upcoming Global AI Forum in Geneva.
Implementation will begin in July, with the Department of Health and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) among the first to adopt the new tool.
