The UK must update its National Data Strategy to achieve its public sector AI goals

In an article for ComputerWeekly, Matt Harris, SVP & Managing Director for UKIMEA at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, writes that the UK government's approach to artificial intelligence (AI) deployment in the public sector is hindering the translation of time savings into greater productivity. Harris writes that while a recent trial of Microsoft's M365 Copilot by the Department for Business & Trade revealed employees saved time, the report suggests a lack of corresponding productivity gains is a familiar issue across government.

He goes on to say that the primary obstacle is a failure to adequately prepare data for use with AI. Furthermore, the current National Data Strategy, last updated in 2022, does not require departments to manage, share, or secure data in a manner that enables scalable AI solutions. 

In order to achieve the government's cost-saving goals, Harris argues that a refreshed National Data Strategy is needed. This strategy must establish clear standards for data quality, interoperability, and secure accessibility across departments. It requires a structured approach to audit, consolidate, and migrate data onto modern platforms, supported by a governance framework that incentivises safe sharing. Addressing the skills gap, where valuable AI talent is leaving the public sector, and embedding robust security guardrails for sensitive information are also crucial steps for turning pilots into productive, transformative outcomes.

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