West Sussex councillors told AI could improve efficiency and cut costs

West Sussex County Council has been told that greater use of artificial intelligence could help improve services while reducing costs.

Speaking during a scrutiny meeting, cabinet member for support services Steve Waight said the technology offered a significant opportunity for the authority as it faces ongoing financial pressures while continuing to provide more than 300 services.

Mr Waight said balancing service delivery with budget savings had become increasingly difficult in recent years, but described artificial intelligence as a potential tool to improve efficiency across the council. He told councillors it could enable the authority to streamline processes, strengthen data analysis and maintain services without the need for further cuts.

The council already uses several AI supported systems, including tools that help social care teams transcribe and translate conversations, analytics built into its Oracle Fusion Cloud management platform, and data analysis tools used by adults and children services to identify demand and prioritise cases.

Some councillors suggested the authority’s digital strategy should be updated to reflect rapid developments in AI, while others raised concerns about the pace of technological change and emphasised the importance of using the technology responsibly.