Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to use artificial intelligence to help process benefit claims.

DWP is continually exploring the use of all types of Artificial Intelligence and its potential to support providing more digital services with a human touch in a safe, ethical and considered way. Artificial Intelligence will never replace the role of our colleagues in supporting customers throughout their journey. We are using Artificial Intelligence to undertake administrative or repeatable tasks freeing up our staff to spend more time with their claimants.

As part of our approach, and in-line with the Prime Minister’s Foundation Model Taskforce, DWP has created a Generative Artificial Intelligence Lighthouse Programme which will safely guide our innovation in emerging Artificial Intelligence technology. The role of this programme is to ‘test and learn’ in a safe and governed environment where all types of AI can be used to assist us in the delivery of our customer outcomes and department efficiencies.

Where Artificial Intelligence is used to assist its activities in prevention and detection of fraud within UC applications, DWP always ensures appropriate safeguards are in place for the proportionate, ethical, and legal use of data with internal monitoring protocols adhered to. Through the work of departmental governance, we can always explain how the AI reaches the conclusions through the use of data that it does.

DWP will not use AI to replace human judgement to determine or deny a payment to a claimant; a human agent always makes final decisions, safeguarding the protection of individuals. Where appropriate Equality and Data Protection Impact Assessments have been carried out.

DWP's Personal Information Charter explains how and why we use personal information and citizen’s rights and responsibilities.