A new artificial intelligence tool has been designed to alert ministers regarding the potential unpopularity of certain policies among their party's MPs, employing a method referred to as a “parliamentary vibe check. ” Called Parlex, this tool is part of a collection of AI resources aimed at helping ministers and civil servants predict which subjects might spur challenges from backbenchers and identify individual MPs who are particularly passionate about those issues. By inputting a summary of a policy, such as introducing a 20mph speed limit, the tool forecasts how MPs are likely to respond based on their past statements in parliament. A demonstration on the government’s website illustrates the historical opposition from Tory MPs towards this change and the support from Labour MPs for measures aimed at calming traffic. Parlex is described as a resource that helps policy teams gauge the political landscape and foresee potential support or opposition to a policy before it is formally introduced, aiding in the development of a parliamentary handling strategy. Currently in its early development stages, this tool functions as a sort of “vibe check. ” According to reports from the Times, Parlex indicates that there are MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith and former MP Tobias Ellwood who opposed the 20mph speed limits, while Labour MP Kerry McCarthy has expressed support for traffic calming initiatives. A government insider mentioned that the tool would primarily benefit civil servants, who might need more political acumen than ministers, who typically stay abreast of key MPs' opinions. Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled an AI initiative that ministers claim will integrate the technology substantially into the country, accompanied by a multibillion-pound investment aimed at enhancing the UK’s computing capabilities. The government’s plan includes a potentially contentious approach to leveraging public data to foster AI business growth.

This plan involves anonymized NHS data that will be made available to “researchers and innovators” to develop their AI models, with assurances of “strong privacy-preserving safeguards” to prevent private companies from owning the data. Ministers are optimistic that AI can address the UK’s sluggish economic growth and estimate that it could lead to an economic uplift of up to £470 billion over the next decade. Parlex is just one of several new AI tools being developed within the government. The Incubator for Artificial Intelligence at No 10 has transitioned to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which reported having 22 projects in incubation and 11 in the development pipeline as of the end of last year. Another widely applicable tool in progress is Redbox, which allows civil servants to automate ministerial submissions by assessing various government documents, including those marked as “sensitive. ” This tool significantly reduces the time that traditionally required hours of manual effort and is intended for use by all civil servants within the Cabinet Office and DSIT, with plans for broader implementation. Additionally, a program named Consult is being developed to save approximately £80 million annually by streamlining and automating the consultation process, ensuring that civil servants can more effectively evaluate and respond to public feedback. The Department for Work and Pensions has emerged as a leader in AI initiatives, utilizing “white mail” technology to analyze handwritten letters from vulnerable individuals among the roughly 22, 000 letters received daily, ensuring those in urgent need are swiftly connected to the appropriate resources.