The UK government is bringing some of the country’s leading artificial intelligence experts into Whitehall as part of a major push to modernise public services, improve national security and
speed up the delivery of essential services relied on by millions of people every day.
Backed by a $1 million investment from Meta and delivered through the Alan Turing Institute, a new cohort of British AI specialists will spend the next year working directly with government departments. Their mission: to develop open-source AI tools that address some of the most persistent challenges across public services, from transport maintenance to secure defence operations.
Ministers say the initiative forms a central pillar of the government’s wider digital transformation agenda, designed to make services faster, safer and more efficient for the public.
AI to improve transport, security and frontline services
In transport, AI fellows will develop advanced computer-vision models capable of analysing images and video footage. These tools will help local councils and transport authorities identify infrastructure problems earlier and prioritise repairs more effectively — potentially reducing disruption and improving safety for road and rail users.
Elsewhere, specialists will focus on building AI systems that can operate offline or within highly secure environments. These tools are intended to support national security and defence teams by improving decision-making while ensuring sensitive data remains protected.
The programme brings together some of the UK’s most respected AI researchers and practitioners, including experts in computer vision, machine learning, robotics and trustworthy AI. Among those joining the initiative are academics from the University of Surrey, King’s College London and the University of York, alongside senior data scientists from the Alan Turing Institute.
New AI assistant to support job seekers
Alongside the fellowship programme, the government has also announced a new partnership with AI company Anthropic to develop and pilot a dedicated AI assistant for public services.
The tool, which will be entirely optional to use, is designed to support people at key life moments. The first pilot will focus on job seekers, offering personalised career advice, guidance on finding suitable roles and practical help with securing employment.
Officials say the assistant forms part of a broader plan to explore how AI agents could support national government services, with a pilot expected to begin later this year.
A week of action on AI for public good
The announcement comes during a week of focused government activity highlighting how emerging technologies such as AI are being deployed for public benefit. The aim is to show tangible improvements at the point of delivery — where people interact directly with public services.
It also builds on a new digital roadmap launched in January 2025, which sets out a long-term vision for how technology will be used to “re-wire Whitehall”. The roadmap draws on the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and is intended to push innovation out of policy documents and into frontline services.
CustomerFirst: cutting queues and paperwork
Earlier this month, the government also unveiled CustomerFirst, a new team within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) focused on removing long wait times, repetitive form-filling and outdated processes across public services.
Led by former Monzo executive Tristan Thomas, with Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson as its first co-chair, CustomerFirst will combine private-sector expertise with emerging technology to deliver faster, simpler and more user-friendly services.
Together, these initiatives signal a significant shift in how government plans to use AI — not as a distant future concept, but as a practical tool to improve everyday experiences for people across the UK.
Minister for Data and Modern Digital Government, Ian Murray said: “A digital world needs a modern, digital government. That is why we are enlisting the homegrown talent we already have to elevate our public services.
Having met the fellows I know they will play a pivotal role in re-wiring our healthcare, police, transport systems and more, to make sure hardworking people benefit from the opportunities that only technologies like AI can deliver”.
Rob Sherman, VP, Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, Policy, at Meta said: “Meta is proud to help bring top British AI talent into government, fast-tracking the transformation of public services. Advanced AI is already woven into daily life—powering the UK’s economy, driving innovation, and enhancing quality of life for citizens. By placing AI experts at the heart of government institutions, we’re accelerating meaningful change and ensuring these benefits reach everyone”.
Pip White, Head of UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at Anthropic: “We’re excited to partner with the UK government to help deliver on the AI Opportunities Action Plan.
This partnership with the UK government is central to our mission. It demonstrates how frontier AI can be deployed safely for the public benefit, setting the standard for how governments integrate AI into the services their citizens depend on”.
Professor Mark Girolami, Acting CEO and Chief Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute said: “AI has huge potential to help us anticipate risks, improve decision making and boost productivity, strengthening the UK’s resilience and prosperity. The new fellows will play an important role in putting effective AI tools into the hands of our public servants in order to realise these benefits”. Photo by Jernej Furman from Slovenia, Wikimedia commons.