By Business CNCT
London, July– The Department for Business and Trade has invested in targeted training programmes of specialist AI learning to combine data science, AI governance and generative AI skills amid the launch of a new in-house AI-powered tool designed to improve staff access to information.
Figures obtained via a freedom of information request showed across 2023-2026, the DBT has invested in a range of specialist AI courses including AI Law, Policing and Governance and AI Fundamentals. Subscriptions were also delivered through universities and digital learning platforms and included Pluralsight and O’Reilly for digital and data teams.
Ask DBT was developed to address the challenge of navigating a large and constantly evolving intranet. Staff can ask questions in plain English and receive clear, sourced responses drawn entirely from intranet content.
During its trial, over 30 per cent of the cohort used the tool, with 61 per cent of queries answered immediately to reduce the time spent responding to routine questions about IT, travel and expenses.
Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics commented: “Department for Business & Trade investment in specialist AI skills, matched with the rollout of Ask DBT is showing other businesses what modern digital services need to succeed.”
“AI tools are built on the data beneath them, so strengthening capability in areas in governance and analytics is key to build reliable, well-structured AI that can improve employee experience and service delivery.”
The launch of Ask DBT follows recent improvements to digital transformation by the Tade Remedies Authority, a non-departmental public body of DBT.
