Technology in Public Services

In a statement delivered in the House of Commons, the minister discussed the role of technology in public services. The minister began by welcoming the new Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs and acknowledged the presence of several members making their maiden speeches. The minister then shared a personal anecdote about their mother's experience with lung cancer. Despite undergoing multiple scans over 18 months, the disease was not detected until it was too late. The minister contrasted this with the capabilities of an AI-powered scanner at a hospital in Huddersfield, which can detect the earliest signs of lung cancer in just seven seconds, potentially saving lives. The minister expressed a firm belief that had their mother received this kind of advanced technology, she would still be alive today. The minister emphasized that the government's approach will be guided by the belief in the power of technology to improve people's lives. While it is easy to view technologies such as AI as impersonal or distant, the minister focused on the tangible benefits they can bring, such as personalized lessons for students and access to lifesaving drugs for patients. The minister concluded by stating that technologies have the ability to transform everyday lives in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.