Governments urged to streamline AI approvals to unlock public value

Ah, marvellous. Boston Consulting Group, Salesforce, and the Centre for Public Impact have published a report telling governments to 'streamline' their AI approval processes, because nothing unlocks public value faster than letting the vendor chorus write the score. The report says public sector bodies face 'growing pressure' to move beyond 'high-level principles' and simplify those pesky 'complex, duplicative' approval processes. One almost expects the next line to be 'and we're just the people to sell you the simpler process.'

The word 'duplicative' is carrying an awful lot of luggage. Nobody is complaining that the duplicate processes are too rigorous; they are complaining that they take too long. Salesforce would like to sell governments its AI widgets, Boston Consulting Group would like to bill for the reorganisation, and the Centre for Public Impact provides the public-interest sheen for the whole affair. The report's core recommendation, stripped of its buzzwords, is that gatekeepers should stop gating. What could possibly go wrong with letting a few more algorithms into benefits, healthcare, and policing, all in the name of 'public value'?

There is, of course, the small matter of 'high-level principles' being replaced by something more actionable. That is a bit like replacing a clearly labelled warning sign with a treasure map — technically actionable, but you might not like where the X marks the spot. The report expresses the optimism of people who have never been on the wrong end of a flawed algorithm: no mention of robodebt, no mention of the Horizon scandal, no mention at all, really, of citizens. Just the gentle urging that approvals must be simpler, faster, and presumably cheaper for the vendors. Lock up your data, the consultants are coming through.