FOI Request - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness

Request 101003707790

I am writing to request information regarding your council’s preparedness and current initiatives relating to artificial intelligence (AI).

Specifically, I would like to understand the following:

AI Strategy

1.  Does the council have an official AI strategy or roadmap?
o  If yes, please provide a copy or summary.
o  If no, are there plans to develop one?

2.  Has the council allocated a specific budget for AI initiatives in the last three financial years?
o  If so, please provide details of the budget allocation and expenditure.

3.  Are there specific teams, departments, or individuals responsible for overseeing AI strategy or implementation within the council?
o  If yes, could you provide their name, role, and contact information (email address and phone number)?

4.  Has the council engaged with external consultants or organisations to develop or implement AI projects? If so, please provide details.

AI Projects and Use Cases

5.  Is the council currently using or piloting any AI tools or solutions?
o  If yes, what are the primary use cases (e.g., chatbots, fraud detection, process automation)?
o  Please list any vendors or solutions used.

6.  Has the council completed or planned any feasibility studies or pilot projects related to AI?
o  If yes, please provide a summary of findings or expected outcomes.

Governance and Ethical Considerations

7.  How does the council ensure ethical considerations in the use of AI, such as avoiding bias in algorithms or ensuring transparency?
o  Are there governance frameworks in place to address these issues?

8.  Has the council undertaken any risk assessments for the implementation of AI technologies?
o  If yes, please provide details or copies of any assessments.

9.  How does the council comply with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) when implementing AI projects?

Talent and Skills

10.  What proportion of the council’s staff has received AI-related training or upskilling in the past three years?

11.  Does the council employ data scientists, AI specialists, or other technical staff dedicated to AI initiatives?
o  If yes, how many, and in what roles?

Infrastructure and Budget

12.  What technological infrastructure is currently in place to support AI initiatives (e.g., data storage, computing resources, cloud platforms)?

13.  Has the council faced challenges in implementing AI due to resource or infrastructure limitations?
o  If yes, please provide details.

14.  Is there a long-term budget allocation plan for AI adoption or expansion?

Public Engagement

15.  Has the council conducted any public consultations or outreach efforts regarding the use of AI in council operations?

16.  Are there mechanisms for residents to understand or influence how AI is being used by the council?

Contact Information

17.  Could you provide the name, role, and contact details (email address and phone number) of the person(s) responsible for IT or AI adoption within the council

Response 19-02-2025

1. No, no current plans to create an official AI strategy, but we are at the early stages of looking at what Copilot for Microsoft 365 can offer us.

2. No

3. Information Systems Manager, HR@moray.gov.uk

4. We have had an initial meeting with Changing Social and intend using them to deliver the Copilot Value and Vision Microsoft funded workshop in order to assess organisational readiness and help inform the business case.

5. -8. Not applicable

9. Any implementation using AI technology will follow our corporate Information Security and Information Governance process where a DPIA will be created for each use case.

10. None

11. No

12. We have Microsoft 365 which will work with Copilot for Microsoft 365

13. No

14. No

15. No

16. Not applicable

17. see 3.