Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes the UK Hydrographic Office has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Over the last 12 months, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been assessing and experimenting with a number of AI and machine learning tools for general productivity tasks as well as more targeted hydrographic use cases. These are listed below.

Trial and evaluation tools

These tools are currently being used and assessed but have not reached production status.

• The beta Admiralty Virtual Ports product uses Kaedim, a Generative AI tool to create 3-D models from 2-D images of features (e.g., photographs of buildings). This enables the building of a 3-D Digital Twin that can provide richer maritime information. Kaedim is a SaaS solution.
• The Scientific Analysis Group have been using UKHO developed machine learning models for automated cleaning of bathymetric data. These are mostly used for Defence requests. All outputs are post validated by experts and feedback is being collected where possible.
• Our Remote Sensing team have been using an internally developed machine learning model for automated extraction of coastline from satellite imagery. This tool has been used for a variety of use cases. Outputs are post validated by experts and feedback is collected where possible.
• Software developers and Data teams have been using AI coding assistants as part of a central government trial. Quality and testing standards have remained the same to make sure the quality of code matches expectations.
• The UKHO internal communications and marketing teams have been using the Government Communication Service Assist tool for creating and editing internal communications in line with Cabinet Office guidelines.
• The marketing team have been trialling an AI-based media monitoring/social listening service named Signal.ai to track media mentions and share of voice across digital social media channels.
• Working with third-party, the UKHO has used AI tools to generate videos supporting ongoing culture work. Outputs are assessed by our People team.
• UKHO Data Acquisition, which offers training services to other hydrographic offices, has been trialling an AI tool to detect whether students have used AI to generate material.

Initial experiments

These are early-stage experiments that may later turn into larger projects dependent on results.

• Our data science team has been experimenting with large language models for the purposes of extracting pertinent information from incoming textual data. For example, the UKHO ingests numerous Notices to Mariners from around the world, which need to be assessed as part of keeping maritime products up to date.
• Data scientists and engineers have been working to make the UKHO Mine Hunting Capability machine learning ready. As part of this, there has been initial experiments with machine learning to inform the data and metadata required to support future testing of commercial offerings or tools developed by other government departments.
• Experiments have run into using large language models for summarising internal information using Retrieval Augmented Generation architecture. Future work around this use case is likely to involve commercial products, e.g., Microsoft Copilot for business.
• The Strategic Business Intelligence function have been experimenting with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini to augment horizon scanning and news gathering. The experiments are proving successful although there are some concerns with the veracity of information provided and traditional research is still being used to validate.
• General usage of AI tools such as those bundled with Microsoft Teams Premium for meeting summarisation and minute taking.

Currently, none of these tools have associated ATRS records. The UKHO is working with GDS on our algorithmic transparency approach, as there are a range of established tools and algorithms that are being used that could fall under scope as well as these new tools. An initial mapping has been completed.

The UKHO uses several government resources to aid with AI guidance and ensure that AI tools are adopted in a safe way. This includes the Generative AI Framework for HMG, which has been superseded by the AI Playbook for the UK Government, as well as JSP936 covering dependable AI in defence. Additionally, conversations have been taking place with MOD around the results of their trial of Microsoft Copilot for Business, as adoption of this toolset could cover common office productivity use cases that are currently being serviced by several different tools.