Modular Data

Amid fiscal tightening and controversial welfare cuts, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement 2025 also delivered something significant: a £3.25bn transformation fund to modernise public services, with AI investment in the Probation Service leading the way. At Modular Data, we've been working with Ministry of Justice UK in prisons and probation, supporting frontline transformation through better data and explainable AI. We welcome the ambition, but if this is going to help reduce reoffending and support overworked staff, it must be built on the right foundations: open, transparent, and governed systems that deliver real value on the ground. 📝 Read my latest article below in the comments #AI #Probation #PublicSector #JusticeReform #SpringStatement #DataForGood #ModularData

Yesterday, Keir Starmer set out his vision for AI in government—promising a digital revolution that will make services more efficient and save billions. But as I said before, AI isn't a shortcut to cost-cutting—it's a tool that, when done right, can transform public services. So, let's imagine for a second that all the barriers are magically removed. Data governance? Perfect. Data access? Seamless. Security, quality, and interoperability? All sorted. If that were the case, how should government actually 'do AI'? It begins with the letter "t." Below, I've written about why open, explainable, and accountable AI must be the foundation of any public sector AI strategy. LLMs, RAG, and Data Mesh offer incredible potential—but only if we build AI that policymakers, civil servants, and citizens can trust. If we want AI to work for the public good, we need open models, transparent data pipelines, and an AI strategy focused on explainability at every level. This is how AI in government should be done. Read more below. Modular Data #AI #PublicSector #DataGovernance #ExplainableAI #Transparency #DigitalTransformation #RAG #LLMs #DataMesh

Later today, Keir Starmer will announce plans to expand the use of AI across government, focusing on replacing tasks currently carried out by civil servants. The promise? Greater efficiency, faster decision-making, and cost savings. AI requires thoughtful implementation, ethical oversight, and skill investment to transform government. It should enhance public services but is not a magic solution for cutting costs. AI works best when it augments civil servants, not replaces them. I've worked with fantastic civil servants at Ministry of Justice UK and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)—data scientists, analysts, and engineers already using AI and data to improve services. The best results come when AI is outcome-driven, solving real problems rather than being deployed for technology's sake. The government must invest in AI skills, responsible implementation, and UK-based innovation—not just rely on sweeping statements about automation. AI should serve citizens, not be a justification for job cuts. Read my latest article on why AI must be a tool for transformation, not just cost-cutting. 👇 Modular Data #AI #PublicSector #DigitalTransformation #CivilService #GovTech

Secretary of State Peter Kyle met with Dario Amodei to sign an agreement that deepens the government’s collaboration with AI giant Anthropic research. This partnership will see both sides working closely together to realise the technology’s opportunities, with a continued focus on the responsible development and deployment of AI systems. This will include exploring how Anthropic's AI assistant Claude could help UK government agencies enhance public services, with the goal of discovering new ways to make vital information and services more efficient and accessible to UK residents, as well as using AI to drive new scientific breakthroughs. The UK will also look to secure further agreements with leading AI companies as a key step towards turbocharging productivity and sparking fresh economic growth – a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change. Read the full Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Anthropic on AI opportunities: https://lnkd.in/e53fbM8G

The UK and the US have refused to sign the Paris AI Summit declaration on inclusive AI. Was this the right decision? At Modular Data, openness, transparency, and collaboration are the cornerstones of responsible AI. Yet, concerns about security and stifling innovation are often used to justify more closed, proprietary approaches. The reality? Transparent AI fuels, rather than hinders, innovation. From better security through community-driven oversight to faster breakthroughs enabled by open collaboration, openness is not a weakness—it’s a competitive advantage. While the UK and the US hesitate, other nations are shaping a future where AI is more ethical, accountable, and accessible. My article below explores why the rejection of the Paris AI Declaration was a missed opportunity and why the UK must rethink its approach. Read the full piece below in the comments: What are your thoughts? Should AI governance prioritise transparency or proprietary control? Let’s discuss. #AI #Innovation #AIGovernance #ParisAISummit