Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 23, OpenAI will offer UK government departments and businesses the option to store data locally starting Friday, a move announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on Thursday. The initiative, developed through OpenAI’s partnership with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), aims to enhance privacy, security, and resilience against cyber threats while expanding the use of AI across public services and commercial sectors.

OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023.

OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, gained widespread attention with the launch of its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in late 2022. The company signed a partnership with the UK government in July to explore how AI can improve public services. Lammy noted that AI tools were already increasing efficiency in the MoJ.

He highlighted that more than 1,000 probation officers are now using Justice Transcribe, an AI tool that records and transcribes conversations with offenders, reducing hours spent transferring notes into digital systems. “By adopting AI, we're cutting the burdensome admin and ensuring frontline staff can spend more of their time doing the things only humans can do – monitoring offenders and protecting the British public,” Lammy said.

Sam Altman added that OpenAI usage in the UK had quadrupled over the past year. “It's exciting to see them using AI to save time, increase productivity, and get more done,” he said.

Under the new plan, UK data residency will be available for users of API Platform, ChatGPT Enterprise, and ChatGPT Edu, ensuring data remains within the country. Matt Weaver, head of EMEA solutions engineers at OpenAI, said pilot projects within the MoJ have sparked interest from other government departments. “We expect adoption to accelerate now we've got the first deployment taking place,” he noted.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT faces competition from companies including Anthropic, Perplexity, and major tech firms like Google and Microsoft. On Tuesday, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered web browser integrated with ChatGPT. The tool aims to deliver tailored information, potentially shifting users from traditional keyword-based search to AI-driven results.

The UK government sees AI adoption as a way to increase operational efficiency while safeguarding sensitive information. By offering local data storage, the initiative provides organizations with greater control over their data and ensures compliance with domestic privacy and security standards.

Overall, the partnership highlights the UK’s commitment to leveraging AI for productivity gains in public services, while providing businesses with secure, locally hosted AI capabilities. With AI tools like ChatGPT and Justice Transcribe, government departments can reduce administrative burdens and allow staff to focus on high-value tasks, marking a significant step toward AI-enabled service delivery across the country.