UK government tells staff to use smaller AI models to save energy
Key Points
- UK government told civil servants to pick the smallest AI model that works
- Guidance named Gemini Flash and GPT Instant as examples
- Staff can't change the model Microsoft Copilot uses
- Civil servants must follow their department's AI policies
The UK government has told civil servants to choose smaller AI models such as Gemini Flash to cut energy use.
The advice appears in guidance on using AI ethically and sustainably, which the government published with a draft label on its AI Knowledge Hub.
The government said AI uses more energy and resources than standard tools, and told staff to use it efficiently.
Where a tool allows it, staff should pick the smallest model that will do what they need, with the guidance giving two examples:
- Gemini Flash instead of Gemini Pro
- GPT Instant instead of GPT Thinking
The guidance noted that staff can’t change the model that Microsoft Copilot uses.
It also told civil servants to keep prompts short, use as few prompts as possible and only use AI when they need it.
Departments may require staff to use specific AI tools or approaches, and the guidance told civil servants to check and follow those policies.
Staff must use systems their department provides for government work and keep personal or identifiable information out of AI tools.
The government warned that AI systems may use the content people give them as training material, though paid services may let users stop this.
The guidance also makes civil servants responsible for checking that AI outputs are accurate, fair and free of stereotypes.
