Unemployed Britons must be given access to government-backed AI chatbots to help them apply for jobs – but employers are worried that the program could trigger a large number of unrelated applications.
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will invite AI companies next week to develop an “agent” that can fill out forms, complete job applications and register patients with doctors’ surgery. Ministers said the “AI Assistant” that will be operational in 2027 will reduce lifesaving management and modernize public services.
This move comes from the background of rising unemployment. Official data this week showed that 3.7 million people are now seeking universal credit without any job requirements, a million more than before Labour came to power. At the same time, entry-level roles have also declined, exacerbating competition for available jobs.
Unlike existing chatbots, such as Chatgpt, the planned government tools will be designed to perform tasks such as booking flights, updating driver’s license address, or registering for a vote. The goal is to “save people’s time and modernize the country,” officials said.
However, recruiters raised concerns that the technology would encourage large-scale applications without scrutiny. A TotalJobs report found that nearly three-quarters of hiring managers said they were overwhelmed by a wave of inappropriate CVs, many of which were created using AI tools.
“If candidates rely heavily on or abuse AI tools, this could mean they are not suitable for applying for roles,” Claire McCartney of the School of Chartered Personnel and Development warned. A quarter of companies have tried to monitor or limit AI usage in applications.
“If you’re doing advertising, you’re going to get hundreds of resumes than you did a few years ago, and a lot of numbers will prove that they didn’t really think about the job. They’ve completed 50 applications in a few days, and they’ve been 10 good people before.”
Employment levels have fallen by 164,000 since last fall’s budget. Some economists blame the decline on higher employment costs, especially the increase in national insurance contributions.
Technology Minister Peter Kyle defended the plan, believing that it could make the UK “the first country in the world to use AI agents on a large scale”. “Using proxy AI to reach its full potential, we can provide certain services to citizens across the country who were previously unimaginable – helping people find better career opportunities, avoid wasting time on government administration and so on,” he said.
The government insists that AI assistants will be optional. However, as employers are already working to screen applications, there are concerns that the system will increase flooding rather than improve job matching.
