THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced new funding and reforms to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology in public services.
Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said the Office for Artificial Intelligence would drive innovation and improve delivery of services across Wales.
A Strategic AI Advisory Group – meeting for the second time later this month – will set skills and investment priorities. Alongside this, funding has been allocated to projects testing practical uses of AI in areas including:
- evaluating “AI scribe” tools in social care assessments
- developing a chatbot assistant for the StatsWales service
- training public sector workers in AI skills
- producing guidance for councils on AI deployment
- piloting a shared platform to trial new AI tools
The government will also continue work with the UK on the AI-enabled “Humphrey” toolset.
One project, funded through the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, will see a Welsh credit union collaborate with tech partners to streamline office systems and improve lending services. Findings will be shared across the credit union sector.
The Welsh Government has secured £440,000 from the UK Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support a “minimum digital living standard” – defining the devices, connectivity and skills people need to participate fully in society. Pilot projects are already working with social housing residents, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and older people.
Meanwhile, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has confirmed a £26 million investment over five years in the Administrative Data Research Wales Partnership, backing secure and ethical use of data to support research.
To consolidate resources, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) will be merged into the Welsh Government by April 2026, aligning it with the Office for AI.
Ms Evans said the move would “streamline and strengthen the Welsh Government’s digital and AI capabilities, reduce duplication, and bring greater integration between policy and delivery.”
