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By KATHERINE LAWTON, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A cash-strapped council has turned to AI to help decide when elderly residents need to go into care.
Derby City Council has constructed an algorithm which examines adult services data to come up with suggestions on the care it should offer.
A person will then approve the suggestions or make appropriate adjustments.
Meanwhile, the AI-driven recommendations are also set to include decisions on care reviews, supported living applications, placements and blue badges for disabled drivers.
But charities have warned against trusting AI to handle people’s needs, as the individuals who require these services are among the most vulnerable.
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a campaign group, told The Telegraph: ‘We are running before we can walk with AI, and older and vulnerable people are being used as a test bed with no safeguards in place. A bot assessing care needs – whatever next?’
And Caroline Abrahams, the charity director at Age UK, called for restraint on AI usage.
Charities have warned against trusting AI to handle people’s needs, as the individuals who require these services are among the most vulnerable
Derby City Council (pictured) has constructed an algorithm which examines adult services data to come up with suggestions on the care it should offer
‘AI is here to stay – and used in the right way, it should benefit us all in time, as well as helping hard-pressed public bodies to manage within tight budgets,’ she said.
‘However, it is still very early days with this new technology, so while we should not be afraid of it – and should indeed embrace it – we are still finding out what it can do really well and what it can’t.’
Derby City Council is running a worn out service after years of budget cuts – currently facing a £4million overspend this financial year.
The council’s adult services were previously graded ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with officials turning to the use of AI because money shortages meant there was no funding to improve staffing levels.
As part of a £7million contract, the project uses a set of AI tools the council has commissioned from ICS.AI.
The authority is reportedly aiming to save £6million in adult services alone as a result of AI usage, documents obtained through freedom of information requests are said to show.
Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa said Derby is using ‘wholesale AI digital innovation across the council’ to deal with funding cuts from the Government.
‘We went for a roots and all, hearts and minds approach to delivering innovative AI solutions to the challenges that local authorities face,’ he said.
The Daily Mail has contacted Derby City Council for comment.
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