News in brief: UK developing AI action plan to drive growth, White House pinpoints ‘game-changing’ climate tech
Global Government Forum’s weekly roundup of public service news
In this edition:
- UK government commissions AI action plan with a focus on growth
- Australian public service agencies urged to review role descriptions ahead of right-to-disconnect laws
- White House pinpoints 28 ‘game-changing’ climate solutions
- Portugal establishes council to create national digital strategy
- This week on GGF
UK government commissions AI action plan with a focus on growth
The UK government has appointed an AI expert to lead on the creation of an action plan to identify how AI can drive economic growth.
Matt Clifford, a tech entrepreneur who is also chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), is tasked with delivering a new action plan focused on “AI opportunities”, including ways to “accelerate the use of AI to improve people’s lives by making services better and developing new products”, according to the government’s website.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will meanwhile create an AI Opportunities Unit. This unit will draw on the knowledge of experts to put into practice recommendations that Clifford is due to deliver to the science secretary in September this year.
The action plan will also set out ways to increase AI adoption across the whole UK economy. This will give consideration to the infrastructure, talent and data access necessary to improve uptake in both the public and private sectors.
The government pointed to estimates from the International Monetary Fund, which it said show that “while the exact economic impact hinges on the wider development and adoption of AI…the UK could ultimately see productivity gains of up to 1.5% annually”.
UK science secretary Peter Kyle said that Clifford would bring “a wealth of experience” as someone who shares his ambition to realise “the opportunities of AI, using it to drive growth and improve people’s lives”.
Rachel Reeves, UK chancellor of the exchequer, said: “Our AI Opportunities Unit will unlock its full potential to grow a more productive economy, create good jobs across the country and deliver the excellent public services that people deserve whilst saving taxpayers money.”
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Australian public service agencies urged to review role descriptions ahead of right-to-disconnect laws
Image: Bram Van Oost on Unsplash
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has published new guidance for the public sector on the right to disconnect laws that come into effect later this month. The guidance sets out non-legally binding definitions of “unreasonable refusals”, “exemptions” and “expectations for Commonwealth employers”.
These new definitions could prompt updated requirements for public services roles, particularly concerning when employees are permitted to log off and cease responding to communications at work.
Position descriptions have been called into question also, prompting requests for a full review of the demands placed on employees’ time.
The final heading of the guidance, which deals with updates to position descriptions, advises agencies to “review any written materials that set out an employee’s role and responsibilities and consider whether they accurately reflect the agency’s reasonable expectations for out-of-hours contact”.
“Agencies may use a variety of tools to communicate an employee’s role and responsibilities, such as job advertisements, candidate information packs, performance agreements, section 24(1) determinations, and position descriptions,” the APSC said.
“It is particularly important for these materials to be accurate if out-of-hours availability is an inherent requirement of the role and/or a person is receiving additional remuneration to be contactable out of hours, such as media officers, departmental liaison officers or executive officers.
“Agencies should also consider implementing mechanisms to regularly review written materials and ensure they are up to date,” the APSC notes.
The right to disconnect will apply to all employers and employees, other than small businesses, from 26 August 2024.
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White House pinpoints 28 ‘game-changing’ climate solutions
The Biden administration has published what it calls a “first-of-kind” Climate Resilience Game Changers Assessment that highlights innovative solutions in areas such as buildings, transport and energy.
The report identifies 28 technologies, management practices and financial tools that “can drive transformative positive impacts on our nation’s climate resilience while creating good-paying jobs, improving community wellbeing and advancing environmental justice”.
It states: “If implemented effectively and equitably, the Climate Resilience Game Changers can help communities avoid disruption and damage to human health and wellbeing. Investing in these promising and emerging technologies, practices and strategies at early stages will enable their rapid deployment before, during and immediately after disasters.”
Technologies included are advanced grid control systems for the energy sector, next-generation desalination and recycling technologies for water, and community resilience hubs.
The Game Changers Assessment also highlights innovations that can be useful across a wide range of sectors, such as advanced remote sensing, analytics and forecasting technologies, as well as novel approaches for harnessing the resilience benefits of natural systems.
A statement from the White House said: “As the National Climate Resilience Framework notes, becoming a climate-resilient nation requires developing and deploying new and enhanced tools in our nation’s toolbox to address climate-related threats.
“The Climate Resilience Game Changers Assessment highlights innovative technologies, practices, and strategies that, with additional research, development and investment, can become these critical tools.”
Read the latest Sustainability Monitor: Coalition launches the ‘backlash to the green backlash’, the new UK government’s climate to-do list, and more
Portugal establishes council to create national digital strategy
The Portuguese government has announced the creation of a Council for Digital in Public Administration.
The council now has 100 days to draft a proposal for a new national digital strategy along with an action plan for its implementation.
A cabinet resolution states: “In line with the Public Administration Reform presented by the XXIV Constitutional Government and in line with the Digital Transition goals of the Recovery and Resilience Plan [RRP], the project group ‘Council for Digital in Public Administration’ is created with new governance structures for digital in Portugal, with a strategic, operational and consultative focus.”
The objectives of the Council for Digital in Public Administration, also known as CDAP, include promoting the study of digital transformation in the public administration and analysing information systems and organisational structures, as well as sharing strategic objectives and specific sectoral needs for the digital transition, according to the document.
The council is expected to propose annual goals and objectives for digitalisation initiatives, as well as medium and long-term targets.
According to the resolution, the CDAP consists of a Strategic Committee, an Operational Committee and an Advisory Council.
The cabinet resolution states that the CDAP should present a final report on the work carried out at the end of its mandate, which runs until 31 December 2028.
Portugal’s previous digital action plan was published in 2020.
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