Scottish local authority reveals use of Microsoft Copilot software, which has previously been widely deployed in Whitehall departments, to perform various tasks, including supporting engagement with citizens and internal operations
Aberdeenshire Council is using artificial intelligence to write and summarise reports.
Writing exclusively for the Local Authorities Guide published by PublicTechnology sister publication Holyrood, council leader Gillian Owen revealed Microsoft Copilot is being “embedded” in the authority’s day-to-day work.
She said: “It is an essential AI assistant to support officer activity like writing minutes and action notes, preparing presentations and writing reports.”
Owen added councillors are also using the tool to respond to constituents in “a clear and concise manner” as well as to record and transcribe meetings.
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It mirrors a similar move towards AI models south of the border. Earlier this year, the UK government announced a set of tools to streamline policymaking and data-sharing.
One tool, Redbox, is expected to summarise policy and prepare briefings, while another, Parlex, will analyse past Common’s debates to predict when policy could face significant opposition from MPs.
The Copilot tool deployed in Aberdeenshire has become increasingly widely used in Whitehall in the past couple of years. High-profile implementations include uses of the technology by the Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
A version of this story originally appeared on PublicTechnology sister publication Holyrood
