Keir Starmer to unveil ‘Jobcentre in your pocket’ AI instruments in main tech speech
In a speech on Monday, Keir Starmer will announce a new AI assistant, designed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), will provide 24/7 careers advice to help people find jobs
Keir Starmer will deliver a speech on the benefits of AI on Monday(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
Keir Starmer will unveil “Jobcentre in your pocket” AI tools to get people into work.
In a speech on Monday the Prime Minister will promise to make new tech work for everyone, and not just the privileged few. Mr Starmer will announce a new AI assistant, designed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide 24/7 guidance for people seeking work.
This will include help building CVs, and offer advice on finding a job or progressing careers. It comes after grim figures showed more than a million young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training (Neet) – with experts warning the situation could get worse. Ahead of his speech, made Mr Starmer said: “No-one doubts the huge potential of tech to change lives. But we have to decide who that change is for.
“This Government’s choice is clear: the tech revolution must work for everyone, not just a privileged few. We’re backing British businesses to lead the way, driving growth and investment that turns into more jobs and stronger communities.
“And we’re using tech to bring opportunity to every corner of the country – helping people into work, tackling inequalities, boosting skills and building a fairer future.”
Describing the tools, which will be launched as a three month trial, No10 said in a statement: “These will act as a ‘Jobcentre in your pocket’, providing personalised job and career advice.”
The government has confirmed that more than 50 AI firms have bid to develop AI tutoring tools to help young people. The tech which will be rolled out from Autumn 2027, supporting nearly half a million children who receive free school meals.
An AI “bootcamp scheme” will be rolled out across England this summer to help people at risk of unemployed and out of education and training. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the state will “aggressively” take bigger stakes in fast-growing UK firms.
He told the Sunday Times: “You are going to start to see us take more risks, upping the risk threshold in our desire to back British innovation as it scales. I want us to be aggressively ambitious.”
Last month former cabinet member Alan Milburn warned Britain is at risk of a “lost generation”. He highlighted fears that 1.25million young people could be out of work, training or education within the next five years.
He also warned the welfare state and health systems used by young people are no longer fit for purpose. The latest Office for National Statistics figures published in February showed around 957,000 young people aged between 18 and 24 are estimated to be ‘Neets’ – or one in eight.
