East Riding Artificial Intelligence Trial Sees Significant Time Savings

Wednesday, 2 October 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

East Riding Council is looking at using AI tools to help drive efficiency in some of it's services.

The authority is working with Microsoft to explore how embracing AI could help streamline administration processes in Children's Services and Adult Social Care.

Deputy Leader - Councillor David Tucker - says initial studies have shown some significant benefits.

The pilot programme focused on generative AI, a type of AI that can create new content, like text or images, based on the data it has been trained on. Using Microsoft's "co-pilot" system, the council explored how generative AI could assist councillors and staff in their daily work, particularly in relation to tasks involving Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. The initial findings suggest that AI has the potential to automate administrative tasks, freeing up staff to focus on more complex and important work.

While the pilot programme explored various applications of AI, Councillor Tucker emphasised that the council is particularly interested in utilising this technology within Children's Services and Adult Services. These departments, often facing budget constraints and increasing demand, stand to benefit significantly from AI's potential for cost savings and efficiency improvements.

One area where AI could make a real difference is in reducing the administrative burden on social care workers. By automating tasks such as data entry and report writing, AI could free up these valuable professionals, allowing them to dedicate more time to directly supporting vulnerable adults and children. This shift could lead to both cost savings for the council and an improvement in the quality of care provided to residents most in need.

The council's approach to implementing AI has been cautious and considered. A key element of this strategy is the council's generative AI policy, approved in April. This policy mandates a thorough review process for all proposed AI solutions, incorporating existing protocols such as IT security reviews, data protection impact assessments and equality impact analyses. The Council says that this meticulous approach ensures that potential issues and risks are identified and addressed at every stage, safeguarding data security and promoting responsible use.

Councillor Tucker said that the key safety feature is that any data used by the AI tools stays within the Council.