GOV.UK Chat, which was added to the GOV.UK app last week, aims to allow people to ask questions in plain language about government services and get reliable answers. Rather than trawling through pages of government guidance or calling a helpline, people will be able to find immediate answers to their questions about childcare entitlements, first-home schemes or business grants.
Law Society CEO Ian Jeffery welcomed the new chat tool and suggested it be expanded to include ‘signposting to early legal guidance and experts’. This would improve the current situation, where people searching for advice online ‘may see thousands of results with no way to determine what is reliable and relevant.
‘The Law Society of England and Wales has long advocated for an NHS 111-style, government-backed AI service to connect people with the right support and help them to navigate complex legal issues.’
