UK Government Validates AI Tool 'Consult' in First Successful Public Consultation Trial

Artificial Intelligence Consult: The UK Government’s AI Validated by a Successful Trial

Summary: The UK government has successfully trialed Consult, an AI tool from its Humphrey suite, to support civil servants in processing public consultation feedback. Early results show promising accuracy and efficiency, hinting at significant time and cost savings for public service delivery.

A First AI Experiment in Scotland

In January 2025, the UK government set out a clear goal: to leverage AI as a key part of transforming public services. Led by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), this initiative launched the Humphrey suite of AI tools for civil servants.

On May 14, DSIT announced the successful first test of Consult. This tool was trialed during a Scottish government consultation on regulating non-surgical cosmetic procedures like lip fillers and laser hair removal.

Consult processed nearly 2,000 responses in just a few hours, extracting key themes from six open questions. The AI-generated analysis closely matched traditional human review, with experts noting only minor differences in theme rankings. With an F1 score of 0.76, the tool demonstrated reliable performance.

Importantly, Consult is designed to assist, not replace, civil servants. It offers an initial categorization that analysts can refine through an interactive dashboard. This approach reduces individual bias and frees up time to focus on qualitative insights.

DSIT estimates that deploying Consult across the 500+ annual government consultations could save 75,000 man-days of analysis—equivalent to roughly £20 million in salary costs. Faster processing also means policymakers can integrate public feedback more promptly, improving responsiveness.

Humphrey: More Than Just Consult

The Humphrey AI suite includes several tools aimed at improving government workflows:

• Parlex: Analyzes parliamentary debates to inform policy decisions.
• Minute: Transcribes and summarizes official meetings efficiently.
• Redbox: A generative assistant that helps draft administrative documents.
• Lex: Supports legal research by analyzing relevant legislation.

These tools aim to reduce reliance on costly contractors while boosting civil servants’ productivity and effectiveness.

An Ambitious Plan to Modernize Public Services

Consult and the larger Humphrey suite are part of the government’s "Plan for Change," introduced earlier this year. This strategy targets £45 billion in annual savings through digital and AI-driven modernization.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasized that AI should take on tasks it can perform faster and better, reducing wasted time and public money spent on contractors. He confirmed that following the Scottish trial, departments across Whitehall will soon adopt Consult, accelerating the Plan for Change’s implementation.

Before wide rollout, further testing and evaluation will be conducted to ensure the tools meet government standards.

Regulatory Considerations for AI in Public Consultations

Using AI like Consult in decision-making raises important regulatory questions. These include addressing algorithmic bias, ensuring transparency in AI-driven analyses, and protecting personal data.

Regulators must guarantee AI applications comply with ethical and legal standards, maintaining fairness and public trust in consultation outcomes.

For government professionals looking to deepen their AI knowledge and skills, resources like Complete AI Training offer practical courses tailored to public sector roles.