Civil servants are not blockers of progress
Adopt, Innovate, Transform, the FDA’s report developed in partnership with the Fabian Society think-tank, looks at what the successful adoption of AI In the civil service would look like, and what support and training staff need to embrace it.
Involve civil servants and properly invest in AI to achieve the productivity and savings the government seeks.
72% have either already introduced AI to improve how their team does things, or would like to do so in future, demonstrating civil servants desire to persue change.
Key findings
The report is based on a survey of over 2,000 civil servants. This survey found:
- Staff feel excluded from decisions and unclear about what is changing, and why. Only 29% say they have been consulted about AI at work, though 66% want to be more involved in shaping how their organisation adopts it.
- Change is being done to workers, not with them: just 29% have been consulted on AI at work, and 66% want to be more involved in shaping how their organisation adopts AI.
- Engagement matters for trust and safety: among those who have not yet used AI to improve how their team works, 36% say this is because they are worried about risks to the public. However, only 3% of respondents provided examples of things that had actually gone wrong, while 56% gave hypothetical examples – a pattern the report says underlines the case for stronger engagement, clearer safeguards, and better communication.
Key recommendations
‘Digital dividend’ for delivery
The report argues this would strengthen incentives to stay in post and complete transformation initiatives, with milestones set at recruitment or at project commencement.
Ensure everyone has access to the right technology
The government must take steps to understand gaps and reform procurement to improve access to both conventional technology and AI – including by monitoring and scaling effective solutions.
Protected time for skills
We propose the government considers at a baseline least of 2.5 per cent, with a higher allocation for those in priority areas.
Departments keep savings
Departments should be able to retain and reinvest efficiencies generated by AI – as is commonplace in business – rather than automatically returning savings.
Digital participation tools
A digital platform should enable staff to share ideas, debate changes, volunteer for working groups and trials, and flag specific issues with AI systems.
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