14 new entries have been added to the UK's Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS).  The ATRS ‘helps public sector organisations provide clear information about the algorithmic tools they use, and why they’re using them.’  It is part of the government’s National Data Strategy which has ‘a commitment to explore an appropriate and effective way to deliver greater transparency on algorithm-assisted decision making in the public sector.’

At a high-level they show that uses of algorithms and AI: is being considered by various government bodies; are at various stages (e.g. from beta/pilot to pre-deployment to production); are for both internal uses (e.g. searching NICE guidance) to external uses (e.g. resolving public enquiries on Network Rail's website); and may be used across, or limited to specific part(s) of, the UK.  However, we know that there are more than 14 uses (or anticipated uses); for example, see the National Audit Office's analysis in early 2024 (here) and our analysis in the chapter Public Law and Procurement Law and AI in the practitioner's textbook The Law of Artificial Intelligence.  We can expect more ATRS submissions to be published, although it is not known when and without further analysis from government it may be difficult to know to what extent they reflect AI use in the public sector.

The short background to this is as follows.  The government's response in February 2024 to the UK White Paper on AI regulation said:

[the ATRS] established a standardised way for public sector organisations to proactively publish information about how and why they are using algorithmic methods in decision-making. 

At that point, seven entries had been published. It continued:

Following a successful pilot of the standard, and publication of an approved cross-government version last year, we will now be making use of the ATRS a requirement for all government departments and plan to expand this across the broader public sector over time.

A further two were published during 2024.  Then a Guardian article in November 2042 (here) reported:

Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science and technology, has admitted the public sector “hasn’t taken seriously enough the need to be transparent in the way that the government uses algorithms”.

Asked about the lack of transparency, Kyle told the Guardian: “I accept that if the government is using algorithms on behalf of the public, the public have a right to know. The public needs to feel that algorithms are there to serve them and not the other way around. The only way to do that is to be transparent about their use.” …

A spokesperson for the department of science and technology confirmed the transparency standard “is now mandatory for all departments” and said “a number of records [are] due to be published shortly”.

 

Updates to the ATRS

The following were published to the ATRS on 14 December 2024. The summary from each is quoted below.  

Chatbot to filter and resolve public enquiries and where necessary, hand-off to a live advisor for further review.

  • Organisation: Department for Transport
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: UK

 

The Pension Calculator estimates your potential retirement income and helps you plan how much to save to reach your financial goals for retirement.

  • Organisation: Department for Work and Pensions
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: UK

 

A chatbot to assist website and telephone users find information faster.

  • Organisation: Ministry of Justice
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: England

 

NORMA is an internal tool that allows staff at NICE to search NICE published guidance and recommendations quickly by undertaking a simple keyword or recommendation search.

  • Organisation: Department for Health and Social Care
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: Wales and England

 

AI lesson assistant for UK teachers to create personalised lesson resources for their classes, with the aim of reducing teacher workload.

  • Organisation: Department for Education
  • Phase: Beta/Pilot
  • Region: UK

 

Find Exporters data uses the Export Propensity Scores to aid users in establishing the export potential of companies on the Companies House register. The algorithm predicts the probability that a company exports goods.

  • Organisation: Department for Science Innovation and Technology
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: UK

 

Data First is an open-source tool for probabilistic data linkage. It provides academic researchers with datasets across the Justice system (courts, prisons and probation) where individuals can be identified with a single, un…

  • Organisation: Ministry of Justice
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: Wales and England

 

An AI-powered writing assistant tool that enhances job adverts by analysing and optimising language for inclusivity, engagement and effectiveness.

  • Organisation: Ministry of Defence
  • Phase: Beta/Pilot
  • Region: UK

 

CARS(V) is a semi-automated workflow routing solution which identifies the likely complexity of visitor visa applications based on applicant’s declared attributes.

  • Organisation: Home Office
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: UK

 

A tool for suggesting relevant guidance and services for British nationals abroad.

  • Organisation: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Phase: Beta/Pilot
  • Region: UK

 

Automates steps when triaging correspondence.

  • Organisation: HM Treasury
  • Phase: Production
  • Region: UK

 

A search tool to support identification of current Senior Civil Servants with career profiles that match requirements for senior digital role vacancies.

  • Organisation: Department for Science Innovation and Technology
  • Phase: Beta/Pilot
  • Region: UK

 

Ask Ops Chatbot is a prototype tool that uses a Large Language Model to provide users with accurate and speedy answers 24/7 to questions about internal HR guidance.

  • Organisation: Department for Science Innovation and Technology
  • Phase: Pre-deployment
  • Region: UK

 

HMT Modelling Policy Engine-UK is a microsimulation model of the UK tax and benefit system specifically of the Family Resources Survey (FRS) dataset]

  • Organisation: HM Treasury
  • Phase: Pre-deployment
  • Region: UK

If you would like to discuss how current or future regulations impact what you do with AI, please contact Tom Whittaker, Brian Wong, Lucy Pegler, Martin Cook, Liz Smith or any other member in our Technology team.