This brief allows you to get a quick understanding of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport's National AI Strategy and what it means for local government

What does it mean for local government?

The use of AI, more specifically predictive analytics, remains at an early stage in local government, although it is becoming more common. Much of the sector is just starting to consider the opportunities and risks of this type of technology. To support the sector in predictive analytics, the Local Government Association produced this guide for councils and provided case studies from three local government projects that utilised the technology.

When considering the use of these technologies, a sector-specific approach is essential. Data plays a vital role in the work of councils, and the sector is committed to protecting people’s privacy. Councils must be able to innovate whilst also ensuring that the ethical and legal context they are operating in protects the public and strengthens trust in the use of data. It is also crucial that local government complies with the public sector equality duty. The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently published this guide for public bodies on considering the Public Sector Equality Duty when a public body uses artificial intelligence.