Brits fear AI will strip the human touch from public services

Brits are worried that AI will dehumanize public services, leading to less human contact and oversight as well as job losses, according to people questioned by pollster Ipsos.

More respondents saw risks from AI than benefits, with 51 percent thinking it may lead to reduced human contact, 50 percent fearing job losses from automation, 47 percent concerned about over-reliance on technology reducing human oversight, and 46 percent worried about privacy and data security.

Fewer people saw opportunities from AI, with a third saying AI could free staff time by reducing administrative work and the same percentage seeing it as a way to let officials handle more information.

It is an open question as to whether politicians will use AI to give staff more time rather than employ fewer of them. Last year's spending review set targets to reduce administrative spending by 16 percent by 2029-30, with more than 8 ...