Meta and Turing Institute join forces for public sector AI tools
Peter Kyle says the goal is real impact, not just AI theory.
The UK government has partnered with Meta to launch a $1 million initiative to embed AI engineers within government departments. Led by the Alan Turing Institute, the 12-month Open-Source AI Fellowship will pair experts with public sector teams to build tools designed for real-world impact.
Participants will develop open-source AI solutions using models like Meta’s Llama 3.5, focusing on language translation and housing application workflows. The programme will also support the expansion of ‘Humphrey’, an internal suite of productivity tools already used by civil servants.
UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the initiative will help deliver practical tools that improve public services, not just theoretical concepts. He cited successful examples like ‘Caddy’, an AI assistant co-developed with Citizens Advice, which has halved staff response times in pilot locations.
The announcement follows Kyle’s recent pledge to collaborate with major tech firms to modernise legacy government systems. The government hopes to scale innovation across national infrastructure, security, and administration by drawing on private sector expertise and open models.
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