All civil servants will get AI training for this year's One Big Thing project, the Cabinet Office has announced.
Training for officials on artificial intelligence tools to deliver better public services will roll out this autumn.
The training is provided through the One Big Thing project, which focuses each year on a key skill that has been identified as valuable for the civil service's future. Last year's focus was innovation, while the 2023 One Big Thing was focused on data.
Civil servants will be taught to use AI to “drive innovation, work with departments more easily, remove unnecessary processes and build technological expertise”, the Cabinet Office said.
And they will be asked to assess how they can use the technology to streamline their own work.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: “AI has arrived. Our defining opportunity is here, and together, we will harness it for the good of our country."
Joanna Davinson, the government chief digital officer, added: "AI gives governments a unique opportunity to improve services and tackle complex problems. This year’s focus highlights that everyone in the civil service – from policymakers to frontline workers – can benefit from AI.
"AI is at the centre of improving efficiency and freeing up public servants’ time to do more of the work that only humans can do. By equipping our people with AI literacy, we’re not just preparing for the future – we’re actively shaping it to design more responsive, efficient services that better meet the needs of the public."
The practical training will give all civil servants a “working-level” knowledge of AI and raise awareness of where government is already using AI to transform public services.
One Big Thing 2025 invites all civil servants to:
- Learn the essentials of AI
- Use AI to test out their learning in the context of their work
- Deliver better for the public by making AI a part of their toolkit
The offer is part of a drive to create a civil service that will “take more calculated risks, and constantly learn from these, to ensure public services can have a more positive impact on people’s lives”, the Cabinet Office said.