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A local secretary of state has corrected claims that he used ChatGPT to advise on government policy. Peter Kyle, the secretary of State for science, innovation and technology, told The Argus that media reports about his AI usage in government have “no context”. On March 13 an article was published in New Scientist headlined "How the UK tech secretary uses ChatGPT for policy advice" following a Freedom of Information request asking for his records using the AI software.
READ MORE: Residents contact MP ‘in terror’ over disability benefit cuts The Hove and Portslade MP explained that he used ChatGPT in a “light-hearted conversation” with his officials, but that people also ought to expect him to use AI considering his role. “I did a podcast interview with Robert Peston; I think it was, and I was asked, do I use ChatGPT? I simply said, yes,” Mr. Kyle told The Argus.
“They asked, does it help you in your job? And I said, yes. “After that interview some journalists from New Scientist put through a Freedom of Information about what I had asked ChatGPT in the past, and I decided to release the information. “And when it was released, I had asked it policy questions, and then also I'd asked it about media questions.
Then there was a lot of media coverage about it, but there was no context given.” Peter Kyle says he is not a 'technophobe' (Image: PA Wire) The secretary of state went on to explain that he would use OPENAI as a tool to cover wide ranging topics and see what information it would produce. He also said that it would be done as an exercise in front of civil servants, to encourage the use of AI as an aiding tool.
He added: “For example, one of the searches that was released was me asking: “I'm secretary of state for science, innovation, technology. What are the best podcasts I should be engaging on?" He explained he was having a briefing from his press team when he asked them this question - and because there weren't "any answers forthcoming", he said: "I just got my phone out, and I said, I'm going to ask ChatGPT.” The secretary of state encourages the use of AI and ChatGPT as a tool to aid (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire) READ MORE: Supporting patients through Operation Bramber He explained to his team that he was using ChatGPT in that context not to “replace jobs” but to support their work.
“It was a serious point, because that was done in seconds,” he added. "Whereas I could have had a team of civil servants scouring the ratings of podcasts and all the rest of it. So, it was just an example.
“It would be completely absurd to me that you have a technology secretary that doesn't use AI. Doesn't use ChatGPT. “Some people seem to expect me to become a technophobe for some reason.
“It would be odd if you had a health secretary that didn't use the NHS, and mind you, I think we have had that in the past. “We've certainly had education secretaries that didn't use the education system. “But that's not how I approach these things.
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