The UK's National Audit Office (NAO) has urged the government to properly account for AI's impact on civil service workforce planning, including staffing levels, roles, and required skills. The report casts doubt on the government's claim that AI and digital transformation could deliver £45 billion in annual efficiencies, warning that departments lack transparency in how they derived these figures and may be missing broader opportunities for workforce restructuring. Key obstacles highlighted include a shortage of digital and technical skills in the public sector, inconsistent efficiency planning across departments, and potential ethical concerns around AI deployment.
