Benefits system trials automation amid growing interest in universal basic income

AI-pocalypse Britain's welfare system is experimenting with AI to manage Universal Credit claimants – even as evidence piles up that artificial intelligence may soon be pushing more people onto benefits in the first place.

The Department for Work and Pensions is exploring chatbot-style digital assistants to support Universal Credit claimants, with Permanent Secretary Sir Peter Schofield telling MPs the technology could eventually become part of frontline welfare support.

Officials believe automated tools could help claimants navigate applications, training options, and employment support while easing pressure on human work coaches stretched by rising caseloads.

"We want to be able to focus our work in a more tailored way so that the people who don't need the interaction with a work coach potentially, in due course, could be able to have an interaction with a digital tool that prompts them, freeing up our work coaches for the people who most need ...