UK Governemnt AI tool named after ‘Yes, Minister’ character

The UK Government’s artificial intelligence assistants are called Humphrey – named after the scheming parliamentary official Sir Humphrey Appleby

The UK Government’s artificial intelligence assistants have been named after a character in the sitcom ‘Yes, Minister’.

Workers are set to be given the AI tool, called Humphrey – named after the scheming parliamentary official Sir Humphrey Appleby – with the aim of “speeding up the work of civil servants” and reducing the amount of admin public sector workers have to carry out so they can focus on their jobs.

Tim Flagg, chief operating officer of trade body UKAI, thinks the name’s association carries the risk that central Whitehall office outsiders will think it is not “empowering”.

He is quoted by BeBC News as saying: “Humphrey, for me, is a name which is very associated with the Machiavellian character from ‘Yes, Minister’.

“That immediately makes people who aren’t in that central Whitehall office think that this is something which is not going to be empowering and not going to be helping them.”

The announcement of the Government embracing the technology is part of its overhaul of digital services.

On Monday (13.01.25), the government announced that it has teamed up with technology firms to use artificial intelligence to create 13,250 jobs and improve public services under The AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Tech firms have contributed £14 billion to the plan – led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, commented: “From the locomotive to the Colossus computer, the UK has a rich history of leadership in tech innovation and the research and development of AI.

“The government’s AI action plan – led by the Prime Minister and Secretary Peter Kyle – recognises where AI development is headed and sets the UK on the right path to benefit from its growth.

“The UK has an enormous national resource in the talent of its people, institutions and businesses which together, can leverage AI to advance the country’s national interest.”