AI technology ‘Consult' was used on a live consultation by the Scottish Government when it was seeking views on how to regulate non-surgical cosmetic treatments, as their use has risen.

Reviewing comments from more than 2,000 consultation responses using generative AI, Consult identified key themes that feedback fell into across each of six qualitative questions. These themes were checked and refined by experts in the Scottish Government, the AI tool then sorted individual responses into themes and gave officials more time to delve into the detail and evaluate the policy implications of feedback received.

Officials who worked with Consult said they were ‘pleasantly surprised' that AI analysis provided a ‘useful starting point' in its initial analysis, with others noting that it ultimately ‘saved [them] a heck of a lot of time' and allowed them to 'get to the analysis and draw out what's needed next'.

They also added that the use of Consult 'takes away' the bias and makes it 'more consistent', by removing opportunities for individual analysts to 'project their own preconceived ideas'.

Scotland's public health minister, Jenni Minto, said: ‘Using the tool was very beneficial in helping the Scottish Government understand more quickly what people wanted us to hear and our respondents' range of views. Officials were reassured through the process that the AI was doing a good job, supporting us to undertake the analysis that will inform our next steps.

‘Using this tool has allowed the Scottish Government to move more quickly to a focus on the policy questions and dive into the detail of the evidence we've been presented with, while remaining confident that we have heard the strong views expressed by respondents.'

More evaluation covering the accuracy and efficiency of the tool will now take place to ensure it's working properly ahead of final rollout decisions.