- Government to use AI tools to speed up service delivery and reduce costs.
- Agreement also aims to improve security and give UK tech firms a fair chance at contracts.
What happened: UK government and Google team up for public service innovation
On 9 July 2025, Peter Kyle, the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, spoke at the Google Cloud Summit in London. He announced a new partnership between the UK government and Google. The deal aims to use Google’s AI and cloud technology to improve public services. Kyle also shared the success of the GOV.UK App, which includes a digital wallet and a chatbot. These tools are set to launch within 15 months, making government services easier to access for everyone.
The government is also working with Google’s AI lab, DeepMind, on a project called “Extract.” This tool helps councils turn old paper documents into digital data. It cuts down on bureaucracy and speeds up important processes. The tool could be key in reaching the goal of building 1.5 million homes. With this partnership, the UK government wants to make services more efficient and citizen-friendly.
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Why it’s important
This agreement marks a change in how the UK government works with tech companies. Kyle explained that too many public sector services still use outdated technology. These old systems are expensive and difficult to maintain. The government wants to move to cloud-based technology to reduce costs and improve services. Currently, the government spends £21 billion each year on tech. The deal with Google aims to lower these costs.
The agreement also helps UK tech companies by giving them a better chance at winning government contracts. The government is creating a national digital exchange where local companies can bid for work. This will help UK companies grow and create more jobs. By working with Google and local firms, the government hopes to make services more efficient and secure.
