GOV.UK to unleash AI chatbot on confused citizens

The UK's Government Digital Service (GDS) will add an AI chatbot to its GOV.UK app in early 2026, before rolling it out across the GOV.UK website used by most government departments and services.

"We want people to be able to ask questions as they would in everyday life; for example: 'I've just had a baby, do you know what help I can get?'" wrote Leanne Cummings, GDS's director for products and services, in a blog post. Responses would combine material from multiple departments including HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Department for Education into "a single, simple conversational answer."

While GOV.UK Chat will initially answer questions, GDS is exploring whether it could carry out simple transactions as well. This would follow Ukraine's Diia.ai chatbot, which began generating income certificates on request in September.

"Our focus is ...