Artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT could play a role at Whitehall and represent a “huge opportunity”, the new science secretary suggested.
Michelle Donelan, who took over the new role after the prime minister’s departmental shakeup last month, said the civil service should rely on its own experts but did not rule out a role for artificial intelligence in the future.
ChatGPT can generate articles, essays, jokes, poetry, and job applications in response to text messages. OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft, made it freely available to the public in November.
It can respond to questions in a human-like manner and understand the context of follow-up queries much like human conversations, as well as being able to compose long scripts if prompted.
Donelan, secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, told the Sunday Telegraph: “I think this kind of technology is going to create a whole new section of jobs and in areas we haven’t even thought about, and where this takes us we is unlimited.
“We need to take advantage of that. Of course we need regulation, we need safeguards. But we should never be afraid of these technologies.
“We should accept them and use them so they can lead to job creation here in the UK.”
When asked about the use in the civil service, he said: “We need to think about what is the use of ChatGPT, just like any other organization would.
“I think these are things we need to look at. I think when we look at all forms of technology, what we should be thinking about is not how does this replace someone’s job or how does this replace an individual’s functions.
“If you look at how teachers or hospitals could use this type of technology, you can think about how AI and other technologies can reduce the administrative burden that people face so that they can continue with the actual work that they were hired to do. do.”
Earlier this week, the International Baccalaureate announced that schoolchildren can cite content created by ChatGPT in their essays.
The IB, which offers an alternative qualification to A-levels and Highers, said students can use the chatbot but need to be clear when quoting their answers.
ChatGPT reached 100 million users in February, just two months after its launch, according to analysts.
It had about 590 million views in January out of 100 million unique visitors, according to an analysis by data firm Similarweb.
Analysts at investment bank UBS said the growth rate was unprecedented for a consumer app.
By comparison, it took TikTok about nine months after its global launch to reach 100 million users and Instagram more than two years, according to data from Sensor Tower, an app analytics firm.
