AI minister Liz Kendall says she doesn't use AI at work

Liz Kendall, the cabinet minister in charge of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has revealed she does not use AI in her job. The Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary this week unveiled a £500m fund aimed at backing British AI firms, which she said was "crucial to our national security and economic prosperity". But speaking to me in an AI-powered driverless car, in an interview for BBC Radio 5 Live and Newsnight, Kendall said she only uses the technology in her private life, including after having an allergic reaction to face cream. A year ago her predecessor, Peter Kyle, unveiled a set of government tools powered by AI, named "Humphrey" after the scheming official from the classic BBC sitcom Yes, Minister. "No one should be wasting time on something AI can do quicker and better," he said at the time. However, his cabinet colleagues are less keen. "Well, I use AI personally rather than at work, I've got to be honest," Kendall said. "I'm much more likely to use it in my personal life." Government officials, though, were expected to use it. Kendall said that when she was at the Department for Work and Pensions, staff in job centres were using AI to rewrite CVs for jobseekers, and