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Unless the UK is really good at managing this kind of spending, it strikes me as something that will just blow a bunch of government money on enriching people w
by version_five 3y ago
Unless the UK is really good at managing this kind of spending, it strikes me as something that will just blow a bunch of government money on enriching people who like doing paperwork. This is basically how all Canadian government spending is, is UK better at it?
From a strategy perspective, I don't think it makes sense for countries generally to waste time on their own foundation models. There are lots of open source options, and almost no chance of a government version besting the state of the art. And there's not the barriers of say semiconductors or other manufacturing.
This is in some ways the classic trap of focusing on "AI" instead of an actual application. This is what many businesses wasted money on in 2016-2020, maybe now governments are doing the same?
- gumballindie 3y agoThe money will end up with Infosys, Sunak’s wife’s father’s company. At least if they made quality software but even that’s questionable.
- ElfinTrousers 3y agoBelieve me, you don't have to make quality software to win a major government software development contract.
- version_five 3y agoIn fact it will be impossible to deliver profitably if you do. Government contracting is about complying with the letter of whatever silly specification you've been given, while being the low bid. (I don't think this is good behavior, just the only viable one). Governments let the perception of fairness and frugality ensure that neither is achieved and that they only get crap.
- ElfinTrousers 3y agoTracks with my experience.
- jen20 3y agoIt’s practically required that you do not.
- ZiiS 3y agoYes the UK is world-class at ensuring this spending is 100% wasted.
- mr_00ff00 3y agoReminds me of the old Bismarck quote about Spain “I am firmly convinced that Spain is the strongest country of the world. Century after century trying to destroy herself and still no success.”
- RugnirViking 3y agothe UK gov has on occasion had good digital teams, for example their web design team regularly posts articles on accessibilty and design that end up on HN, and generally seem competent. This being said, I'm not confident at all this will end up that way