Scotland supports SMEs’ use of tech in economic stimulus plan
Scottish Government will also provide funding for retraining
Widespread Whitehall homeworking to continue
Phased return begins but numbers of civil servants returning to the office will be limited...
Government defends Test and Trace as councils look to own measures
Authority in Blackburn implements localised initiative to ‘complement’ national scheme
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AI Week: Turing Institute on why government should use data science to ‘make better policy’
Helen Margetts and Cosmina Dorobantu from the Turing’s public policy programme talk to PublicTechnology about ethics, explainability, and why government has ‘unique expertise’ it can benefit from
AI Week: A bias view
The potential for technology to embed and amplify systemic biases is seen as one of the biggest inherent risks of deploying AI and automation at scale. PublicTechnology talks to experts about the key issues and how they can be addressed
AI Week: How government learned to stop worrying and love AI
A few years ago, artificial intelligence was barely on the public sector’s radar. Now, it is one of the most-discussed topics in all of government. To kick off our dedicated AI Week, PublicTechnology examines where we are, and how we got here
AI Week: can we forgive a robot and three other important questions
To introduce AI Week, PublicTechnology editor Sam Trendall runs through four of the biggest questions facing the technology
Data chiefs call for end to politicians’ early access to statistics
Ministers and officials should receive information at the same time as the public, say senior figures from the ONS and Royal Statistical Society
Local government must embrace accessible-first web design
In much the same way that mobile-first design has taken hold, public bodies must embed accessibility considerations into their design processes, believes Jack Niland of Jadu Spacecraft
Local councils could reap £10,000 revenue boost from 5G and full fibre, report finds
Study claims next-generation networks could spark local economic gains
Gender bias concerns raised over GP app
Onlookers are asking why the chatbot created by Babylon Health – which provides the GP at Hand service – is offering such different guidance to men and women. But the company tells PublicTechnology its service is working as intended.
Government equivocates on MPs’ call for ‘urgent’ change in electoral law
Non-committal response issued to select committee recommendation
One in four Scots unwilling to use digital means for health consultations
Although most Scottish citizens believe IoT and smart technology will improve healthcare delivery, many do not want to use bots, conferencing, or web chat
Website and online questionnaire lead government’s £100m drive to encourage citizens to prepare for Brexit
Mugs and t-shirts also included as government launches official comms campaign to urge preparedness
Tech firms should join a coalition of the willing to support interoperability for police IT
Jessica Russell of techUK believes increased collaboration between the emergency services and technology partners could deliver improved public-safety outcomes
Home Office responds to ‘misleading advertising’ ruling by repeating contentious claim
Department ‘completely disagrees with ASA decision’ to uphold complaint about advert concerning online application for settled status
Start-ups can show the way to public sector transformation
Hanna Johnson of tech accelerator Public believes that transforming citizen services will require government to adopt new ways of buying and using technology
Government looks to AI to end bank holiday traffic jams
DfT plans to release data on planned changes to the road network
Hull to offer ICT business support to help local SMEs grow
City council backs initiative to help smaller firms grow
Concern and confusion grows over settled status scheme
With free movement now set to end abruptly on 31 October, Home Office remains unable to answer key questions
Older people ‘need alternatives’ to digital services as research shows one in four live offline
Charity calls for more service options as ONS data shows a significant proportion of over-65s do not use the internet
Policymakers and politicians must fill the AI information vacuum
UK citizens remain open to new technology, but government must act to ensure negative narratives do not take hold, believes Mark Kleinman of the King’s Policy Institute
Can the GDS innovation strategy deliver a lasting legacy for government?
Government's new Innovation Strategy set out ambitious proposals to update processes, eliminate ageing kit, and embrace emerging technologies. PublicTechnology caught up with GDS innovation head Sue Bateman to find out more