Whitehall’s ambition to cut costs using AI is fraught with risk

No 10 must decide whether to build or buy' its AI technology as ministers increasingly lean on it to tackle crises

• Tech firms suggested placing trackers under offenders' skin at meeting with justice secretary

A Dragons' Den-style event this week, where tech companies will have 20 minutes to pitch ideas for increasing automation in the British justice system, is one of numerous examples of how the cash-strapped Labour government hopes artificial intelligence and data science can save money and improve public services.

Amid warnings from critics that Downing Street has been drinking the Kool-Aid" on AI, the Department of Health and Social Care this week announced an AI early warning system to detect dangerous maternity services after a series of scandals, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said he wants one in eight operations to be conducted by a robot within a decade.