Up to £730,000 is set to be invested in AI projects by Warwickshire County Council.

The Reform-led council will spend the money from its revenue investment fund over the next two years to "explore and implement AI solutions to improve productivity and enhance service delivery".

The local authority said the spend will help it meet a target of £419,000 in savings.

"The new approach will allow the council to take a strategic and coordinated approach to AI, moving away from ad-hoc projects," a council statement said. 

Each individual AI project will be evaluated with a business case to ensure it delivers "clear financial and efficiency benefits before being approved". 

Cllr Michael Bannister, portfolio holder for customer and localities, said: "As a council, we're committed to exploring how new technologies can help us serve our communities better and make sure we're getting the most out of every pound of taxpayers' money.

"This new programme will allow us to safely, ethically, and cost-effectively explore how AI can help us improve our services and support our staff. 

"We're not just jumping on a trend; we're taking a sensible, measured approach to a technology that is already changing how we work.

"By investing in a clear, coordinated programme, we can make sure we're focusing on the right projects that deliver real benefits for our residents and help us meet our financial goals."