Govt to announce new scheme as it ramps up AI adoption with backing from Meta

The government is speeding up its adoption of AI to try and encourage economic growth - with backing from Facebook parent Meta.

It will today announce a $1m (£740,000) scheme to hire up to 10 AI "experts" to help with the adoption of the technology. Sir Keir Starmer has spoken repeatedly about wanting to use the developing technology as part of his "plan for change" to improve the UK - with claims it could produce tens of billions in savings and efficiencies.

Politics live: Follow the latest updates The government is hoping the new hires could help with problems like translating classified documents en masse, speeding up planning applications or help with emergency responses when power or internet outages occur. The funding for the roles is coming from Meta, through the Alan Turing Institute.

Adverts will go live next week, with the new fellowships expected to start at the beginning of 2026. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: "This fellowship is the best of AI in action - open, practical, and built for public good.

It's about delivery, not just ideas - creating real tools that help government work better for people." He added: "The fellowship will help scale that kind of impact across government, and develop sovereign capabilities where the UK must lead, like national security and critical infrastructure." The projects will all be based on open source models, meaning there will be a minimal cost for the government when it comes to licensing. Meta describes its own AI model, Llama, as open source, although there are questions around whether it truly qualifies for that title due to parts of its code base not being published.

The owner of Facebook has also sponsored several studies into the benefits of government adopting more open source AI tools. Read more:UK to be AI 'maker not taker' - PMGovt AI adviser stands down Mr Kyle's Department for Science and Technology has been working on its mission to increase the uptake of AI within government, including through the artificial intelligence "incubator.