The UK government tests OpenAI-powered chatbot on Gov.UK, aiming to streamline public access to business information.
The UK government has launched a trial for Gov.UK Chat, a GenAI-powered chatbot designed to provide users with easy access to business guidance. Built on OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, the tool can answer questions naturally and compile information that would otherwise be spread across dozens of web pages. This trial involves up to 15,000 business users and links to 30 key Gov.UK business pages. This includes tax, trademarks, and business setup advice. By leveraging GenAI, the government aims to make public interactions faster and more efficient. Addressing the challenge of outdated and fragmented online services.
The chatbot is part of broader efforts led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to modernize public sector digital services. With over 11 million weekly users on the Gov.UK site, which spans more than 700,000 pages, navigating this vast resource can be cumbersome. The GenAI chatbot helps users locate precise information without the time-consuming task of searching multiple pages. While previous smaller trials showed nearly 70% of chatbot responses as helpful, they also highlighted the need for higher accuracy. Prompting further development.
Safety measures are a priority in this trial. DSIT collaborated with the UK’s AI Safety Institute to implement guardrails. Aiming to prevent inaccurate or misleading information. Acknowledging that some inaccuracies may still occur, DSIT views this trial as essential for collecting data to refine the chatbot’s performance. This experiment supports the government’s ambition to integrate AI responsibly and efficiently. Potentially paving the way for expanded use across all of Gov.UK.
GenAI has transformed tech adoption globally, and this initiative reflects the UK’s commitment to harnessing it for improved public service. Reducing bureaucratic delays, and enhancing user experience.