The UK government has launched an experimental chatbot in its GOV.UK app, which it said will allow users easier access to government information.
The bot was designed in partnership with US company Anthropic, and is built on its flagship Claude model, which allows it to process queries and produce responses in natural language.
The answers themselves are produced from the government’s 80,000 web pages, which it said makes the tool the most comprehensive government‑built chatbot in the world. It is able to answer questions on topics across the government’s remit, from childcare to homeownership, though the release stresses that the information provided is general rather than specific personal advice.
Since its soft launch in March, the bot has been used by over 7,800 people and handled more than 15,000 questions, with accuracy matching the 90 per cent benchmark it reached in testing.
The bot has already faced criticism from some circles, however, including from tax expert and former tax lawyer Dan Neidle. Neidle told The Times on Friday that he believed it provided “misleading” answers to tax questions and gave the impression of providing advice despite the government’s claims, particularly around childcare.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has told National Technology News that it disputes this framing, saying the bot provided appropriate responses to the questions Neidle asked.
“Modernising our digital services is central to building a government that works for everyone,” said Liz Kendall, technology secretary. “For too long, navigating government has felt like a full‑time job. Whether you’re a parent trying to find out what childcare you’re entitled to, a first‑time buyer working out which schemes you can access, or someone approaching retirement, you shouldn’t have to spend time trawling through hundreds of web pages to get a straight answer.”
The UK government has pushed heavily for investment into AI in both the public and private sectors. In April, it announced a £500 million Sovereign AI fund designed to strengthen national capabilities in the technology.
