Identifying who is entitled to energy bill support and improving social care planning could soon become easier as the government launches a series of projects to improve how public sector data is shared and used, including through artificial intelligence.
Five new ‘kickstarter’ projects have been launched by the Government Digital Service in partnership with public sector bodies. The initiatives will test how securely connecting data across areas such as energy, social care, legal records and weather insights can deliver better, more efficient public services while protecting privacy.
One of the key projects involves a partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver a new Get Adult Social Care Data service. The digital platform will gather, analyse and share essential data in clear and accessible formats, helping organisations such as the NHS and researchers plan care for people who need it most.
Another project will bring together data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs. By connecting the departments responsible for delivering energy bill support with those best placed to identify households in need, the approach could ensure people receive the help they are entitled to without lengthy administrative processes.
A further project will explore whether closer integration of services can reduce repetitive health‑related paperwork for disabled people and those with long‑term health conditions. The aim is to prevent people from having to repeat the same information across services, while enabling them to stay in or return to work and play a more active role in their communities.
Across several projects, public sector data is being assessed to understand how AI can boost effectiveness, including by making legal guidance easier for businesses to access. These projects represent an early step towards the government’s Industrial Strategy ambition to harness the power of data as the foundation for reformed public services and practical AI solutions.
Additional kickstarter projects include:
- Testing how trusted Met Office data can be converted into AI‑ready formats, helping organisations anticipate the impact of local weather and climate conditions, such as planning for winter gritting or seasonal retail demand.
- Exploring how authoritative legal data held by The National Archives could be made AI‑ready, enabling small and medium‑sized businesses to access straightforward legal support for areas such as employment contracts and overseas procurement.
To support AI innovation, the government is investing a further £16 million to expand the AI Research Resource supercomputing capacity at the University of Cambridge. Combined with a new National Compute Resource funded by UK Research and Innovation, this will increase computing capacity at Cambridge sixfold by Spring 2026.
For the first time, researchers, SMEs and start‑ups across the UK will gain access to advanced AMD hardware, enabling them to train AI models and support new scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Alongside data and AI investment, the government has announced a pilot for a new Creative Content Exchange – a marketplace designed to buy, sell and license digitised cultural and creative assets at scale.
Ian Murray, Digital Government and Data Minister, commented:
“Technology is at the heart of our mission to build better public services - from making sure vulnerable people get the support they are entitled to without needless admin, to backing businesses with tools they need to grow.
“By taking a common-sense approach to public sector data and investing in our world class AI base, we are seizing the UK’s potential, unlocking opportunities for growth and delivering for working people.”
The pilot phase, delivered through the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, will involve leading cultural institutions including:
- Imperial War Museums
- National Library of Scotland
- Natural History Museum
- Royal Armouries
The pilot will explore how digitised collections can be used by consumers, technology companies and AI developers, while respecting creators’ rights and copyright. A range of commercial licensing models will be tested, with the aim of launching an operational pilot platform by Summer 2026, delivering on the government’s Industrial Strategy commitments.
Image credit: iStock
