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AI.
Serious question on a Saturday night.
AIs such as Google Gemini, and chatgpt can now handle documents of up to 1500 pages -
How long before we can feed it CPAG, all of sweet and Maxwell, disability rights handbook
And then talk to the AI about our problems ...
It’s Saturday night, and I have no idea what this means for copyright - but part of me loves this idea?
Or in other words - when is CPAP releasing an AI agent?
A Monday morning response 😄
... I was in a meeting a couple of months ago where one of the presentations was on the Caddy project that is based on interrogating gov.uk and Adviceguide information, and certainly some of the questions from the floor were about how brilliant it might be if it also included the CPAG handbook
More on Caddy here: Local Citizens Advice offices in NW England partner with the government to trial the use of an AI-powered ‘co-pilot’ in the delivery of advice services
Are you trying to do us all out of a job!?
On a serious note - a colleague at the council (not an adviser) asked Google about the two child limit. The AI summary answer given perpetuated the myth that it applies to Child Benefit.
Even, for the moment, working on the extremely doubtful assumption that some sort of chatbot gubbins could ‘get it right’, I’m not seeing how that might overcome the more fundamental problem: the need for a human to be able to understand the chatbot’s response.
But perhaps that isn’t where we’re going. We’ve a comprehensive means-tested benefits system (UC) which, in an operational and day-to-day sense, runs on the basis of what those who built the government* IT system thought was necessary, rather than on the basis of what the law might actually require. We’ve a government* which is happy to trial the use of AI in judicial decision making. Maybe we can end up in a place where appellants can use AI to draft their claims, where AI decides those claims, where AI drafts the grounds of any appeal the appellant might wish to make and where AI decides the appeal itself?
*“government”, I think, is perhaps a bit misleading here. We’ve historically understood ‘government’ and ‘power’ to be intrinsically connected, but there is an ever widening disconnect. Decisions, at least ones of real magnitude, aren’t made by governments, they only facilitate the decisions of supranational corporations that increasingly determine more and more aspects of our lives, whilst simultaneously moving further and further away from any possibility of democratic control. And the interests of those corporations include increasing the use of AI in every day life - and in administration and government. We’ve an economy and politicians in thrall to a neo-liberalism playing out its endgame, with ever growing numbers of ordinary people living lives which are marginal, whose employment, if they are working at all, is precarious and who know, absolutely, there is no prospect of government or politicians changing any of that for the better.
(Not) sorry for the rant.
I think it’s interesting. Whilst I’m not expecting to need to sign on any time soon I wouldn’t under estimate what things like ChatGPT can do now. For instance I asked ChatGPT what I should put in my PIP MR letter and it told me:
When writing a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) letter for your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim, it’s important to clearly explain why you disagree with the decision and provide additional evidence or information that supports your claim. Here are some key points to include in your MR letter:
1. Personal details: Begin the letter by providing your full name, address, National Insurance number, and any other relevant identification details.
2. Reference the decision: State the date of the decision letter you received and mention that you are requesting a mandatory reconsideration of the decision.
3. Explain why you disagree: Clearly state the reasons why you believe the decision was incorrect. Describe how your health condition or disability affects your daily life and functional abilities. Provide specific examples and real-life scenarios to illustrate the impact.
4. Address the assessment: If you had a face-to-face assessment, discuss any concerns or discrepancies you have regarding the assessment process. Explain if you feel that the assessment did not accurately reflect your condition or if important aspects were not adequately considered.
5. Provide additional evidence: Include any new evidence or information that supports your claim. This can include medical reports, doctor’s letters, test results, supporting statements from healthcare professionals, or any other relevant documentation. Explain how this evidence demonstrates the impact of your health condition or disability on your daily life.
6. Address the decision’s reasoning: If the decision letter provided specific reasons for refusing your claim, respond to each of those reasons individually. Counter any inaccuracies or misunderstandings and provide additional evidence to refute their points.
7. Use clear and concise language: Write your letter in a clear, straightforward manner. Use simple language and avoid unnecessary jargon or technical terms. Make sure your points are easy to understand and supported by evidence.
8. Be polite and professional: Maintain a polite and respectful tone throughout the letter, even if you feel frustrated or upset by the decision. This helps to ensure your letter is taken seriously and can contribute to a more positive outcome.
9. Request a copy of the assessment report: If you have not received a copy of the assessment report, you can request it in your MR letter. Reviewing the report can help you identify any discrepancies or inaccuracies that need to be addressed.
10. Keep copies and records: Make copies of your MR letter and any supporting documents you include. Keep records of when you sent the letter, any correspondence received, and notes from any phone calls or meetings with the DWP.
Remember to submit your MR letter within one month of receiving the decision letter. Consider seeking advice and support from organizations such as Citizens Advice Bureau or Disability Rights UK to ensure your MR letter is well-prepared and effectively presents your case.
It’s certainly not perfect. I’d not ask for the assessment after sending my MR but before and nor would I be signposting to Disability Rights UK (not because they’re not good, but because they’re not an advice agency!). But I’m not sure that there’s much else I’d add to that as a piece of one off advice for a client (or someone supporting them) who had the wherewithal to write their own MR.
I could easily see a question and answer style chatbot powered by something like ChatGPT becoming quite powerful as an advice tool. For instance another question I asked was: “Can you give me an example of what I should write in my appeal letter about preparing food when I have osteoarthritis in my hands? Perhaps a paragraph explaining the difficulties?” to which it said:
Certainly! Here’s an example paragraph that explains the difficulties you face in preparing food due to osteoarthritis in your hands:
“I would like to bring to your attention the significant challenges I encounter when it comes to preparing food due to the presence of osteoarthritis in my hands. This condition has caused persistent pain, stiffness, and reduced dexterity, severely limiting my ability to carry out basic tasks involved in food preparation. Simple actions such as gripping utensils, chopping ingredients, peeling fruits and vegetables, and stirring pans have become arduous and painful. The pain intensifies when I exert pressure or engage in repetitive movements, making it increasingly difficult to handle objects and carry out precise tasks. These limitations significantly impact my overall ability to prepare meals independently and safely.”
Feel free to customize and expand on this paragraph based on your personal experiences and the specific difficulties you face. Remember to provide specific examples, mention the impact on your daily life, and consider incorporating any relevant emotional or safety concerns.
Again not perfect by any stretch, it’s too generic, needs some specific examples and the question made it easy for it as well (how many clients would ask us a question phrased like “what should I say about the osteoarthritis and how it affected my ability to cook?”. But it’s a very solid paragraph and stronger than some attempts I’ve seen clients make on their own. You could easily build that out into a strong answer if you just put some examples in.
Again, I’m not heading down the Jobcentre to sign on any time soon. But I wouldn’t dismiss the potential impacts of things like ChatGPT on how we provide advice.
We were asked to look at an AI chatbot thing which relied on our existing I&A content across a range of subjects including social security and social care. Whilst it wasn’t perfect, as CHAC Adviser says, the results weren’t too bad at all in general, with one response being wrong basically but the others were all to a pretty good standard.
However, we also took heart that it relied on our I&A content which of course is all still produced by humans.
“There’s no need for legal aid for representation in social security matters at the First-tier Tribunal because the the tribunal’s inquisitorial and enabling role means that unrepresented appellants will receive a fair hearing.” - Legal Aid Agency 2012.
“There’s no need to fund welfare rights services because Chatbot X, Y or Z is able to advise claimants on how to claim, how to complete a claim form, how to request a revision and how to appeal. Where necessary, the AI is also able to suggest answers and write submissions.” - local authority and central government funders 2028.
Fortunately, by then, I’ll likely be on the point of retiring.
“There’s no need for legal aid for representation in social security matters at the First-tier Tribunal because the the tribunal’s inquisitorial and enabling role means that unrepresented appellants will receive a fair hearing.” - Legal Aid Agency 2012.
“There’s no need to fund welfare rights services because Chatbot X, Y or Z is able to advise claimants on how to claim, how to complete a claim form, how to request a revision and how to appeal. Where necessary, the AI is also able to suggest answers and write submissions.” - local authority and central government funders 2028.
Fortunately, by then, I’ll likely be on the point of retiring.
There’s not a robot been built that could replace you mate…..
Fortunately, by then, I’ll likely be on the point of retiring.
There’s not a robot been built that could replace you mate…..
SwearBot.
But thanks. ;)
Perhaps this entire forum is just a load of AI bots talking amongst themselves ................................
Perhaps this entire forum is just a load of AI bots talking amongst themselves ................................
Dead Rightsnet Theory
To be fair, chat bots produce far less gibberish than many humans one encounters.
[ Edited: 29 Aug 2024 at 09:16 am by nevip ]Present company excepted of course 😄
Present company excepted of course 😄
Mais cela va sans dire.
To be fair, chat bots produce far less gibberish than many humans one encounters.
I’ll concede that chat bots, even at their present stage of development, might well be able to produce something more coherent than the majority of DWP subs that cross my desk…..