UK Government Unveils Plans for Digital Wallet and AI-Powered Chatbot

The United Kingdom government has announced plans to launch a secure digital wallet for managing government-issued credentials, alongside a chatbot powered by OpenAI. This move is part of the government’s efforts to catapult itself into the 21st century and provide citizens with more convenient and secure ways to access government services.

Digital Wallet and Virtual IDs

The digital wallet, dubbed (link unavailable) Wallet, will allow users to securely store government-issued documents, such as driver’s licenses and veteran cards, on their phones. This will provide citizens with a more convenient and secure way to access these documents when needed. The first two virtual IDs to be added to the wallet will be a digital driver’s license and a digital veteran card.

AI-Powered Chatbot

The chatbot, named “chat-uk,” will be integrated into the (link unavailable) portal and app, providing citizens with a more interactive and user-friendly way to access government services. The chatbot is being developed in collaboration with OpenAI and is currently being tested by the government.

Improved Online and Offline Safety

The digital driving license, in particular, is expected to improve online and offline safety. According to Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for technology, digital IDs can be used to provide age verification for certain online services, which has been problematic to secure to date.

Voluntary Adoption

The government has emphasized that the adoption of the digital wallet and virtual IDs will be voluntary, and citizens will not be required to use them. However, the government is working to make the services “compelling” and “desirable” to encourage citizens to adopt them.

Broader AI Strategy

The launch of the digital wallet and chatbot is part of the U.K. government’s broader AI strategy, which aims to build out an AI economy in the country. The government has partnered with private AI companies to invest in AI operations and infrastructure, and has committed to investing in AI services itself.

Future Developments

The U.K. government’s plans for digital transformation are ongoing, with further developments expected in the coming years. As the government continues to invest in AI and digital technologies, citizens can expect to see more convenient, secure, and user-friendly government services.