Government Introduces AI Tool to Gauge Public Sentiment on Botox Treatments

A government AI initiative aimed at gauging public sentiment on various issues is set to be implemented nationwide. This tool, known as Consult, was initially utilized by the Scottish government to assess public opinions regarding the regulations surrounding non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers.

According to the UK government, Consult delivered results comparable to those produced by human officials and will now be employed to analyze feedback from additional consultations. The tool is expected to spare human staff from an estimated 75,000 days of manual analysis annually, saving around £20 million in staffing costs. “No one should be wasting time on tasks that AI can execute more swiftly and effectively, nor should taxpayer money be squandered on outsourcing such functions to contractors,” stated Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

Consult is part of a broader suite of AI tools referred to as Humphrey, named after a prominent civil servant in the show Yes, Minister. The government is leveraging these tools to expedite civil service operations and reduce expenses.

“The Scottish government has taken a bold first step,” remarked Mr. Kyle. “I will soon be using Consult, as part of Humphrey, within my own department, and other Whitehall departments will incorporate it as well to enhance our efficiency in delivering plans for change.”

In January, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his vision to integrally embed AI within the UK, aiming to unlock a projected £400 billion economic potential through technology. A report from Google in April, titled AI Works, suggested that nearly half of this value could arise from workers leveraging AI for increased efficiency. However, challenges remain in fully integrating AI into workforces, with issues related to training, infrastructure, and disorganized data posing significant hurdles.

Currently, there are marked differences in comfort levels with AI across different age and gender demographics. Research conducted by Public First for Google indicated that women over 55 are four times less likely to engage with AI compared to men under 35.