Replacing public servants with AI could come with hidden costs, critics warn

Replacing public servants with artificial intelligence could come with more costs, critics say.

Replacing public servants with artificial intelligence could come with more costs that will eat into any savings, say critics.

The government says the plan to cut another 8700 people sector jobs in about 40 core agencies will save $2.4 billion over four years.

The coalition government's basic recipe for cutting the public sector size and wage bill is to reduce the head-count and increase use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

When Roger May, a retired forestry consultant of Motueka heard this, he emailed Finance Minister Nicola Willis to say that "is going to take time and money".