The UK government has launched nine new artificial intelligence (AI) training courses for civil servants, aimed at improving digital skills and improving efficiency in the public sector.
Led by the Cabinet Office and Government Skills, the courses are designed to prepare civil servants for the growing impact of AI on government operations.
The training covers key areas including AI ethics, generative AI tools, large language models, machine learning and natural language processing, providing staff with the skills needed to use AI technologies effectively within government departments. One of the practical applications highlighted is the use of Redbox Copilot, an AI-powered chatbot that helps civil servants by summarizing the contents of letters, briefings and voice transcriptions, helping them manage their daily tasks more efficiently.
Michael Thornton, senior director of public sector at Investigo, praised the initiative, saying: “Artificial intelligence can be a huge driver of efficiency in the public sector, saving civil servants each dozens of hours a week. It is therefore encouraging to see the government launching new AI courses for civil servants, covering key areas such as ethics and generative AI tools that can vastly increase productivity.”
Thornton also emphasized the importance of bridging skills gaps, noting that the public sector should take a strategic approach to managing interim and consultancy staff to support AI integration. “By bringing in specialized talent in addition to training AI skills, the public sector can ensure the smooth rollout of AI technologies while transferring crucial knowledge to public officials to maintain these systems.”
The new AI courses replace seven legacy modules in the government’s Generative AI suite and offer a mix of video, interactive and written content to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Tristan Wilkinson, head of public sector at AND Digital, underlined the importance of including data management in the curriculum. “Boosting public sector efficiency must be a top priority to improve the delivery of key public services. Equipping civil servants with AI skills to improve productivity is a welcome sight,” he said.
Wilkinson emphasized the importance of a robust focus on data within AI training, covering topics such as data quality, governance and ethics. “Data is at the heart of any AI model, so it is important that training addresses these topics, especially in the wake of the EU AI Act. By embracing a data AND ethical approach, staff can operate systems in a safe and reliable manner and truly maximize the benefits AI has to offer.”
The nine courses available to civil servants include:
– AI: basics
– AI: Understanding AI ethics
– AI: the business value of AI
– AI: Gen AI tools and applications
– AI: working with large language models
– AI: machine learning and deep learning
– AI: natural language processing and speech recognition
– AI: computer vision
– AI: technical curriculum
These courses are not only designed to increase the AI literacy of civil servants, but also support the UK government’s wider strategy to increase public sector productivity and deliver better services to the public through the strategic use of artificial intelligence .