TL;DR
AI has caused a sharp rise in public complaints and FOI requests to UK authorities since late 2022. Despite efforts to curb paperwork, the trend continues, driven by AI’s affordability and accessibility.
Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, the volume of complaints, FOI requests, and tribunal claims directed at British public bodies has surged sharply, despite longstanding efforts to limit administrative burdens. This trend appears driven by AI’s ability to generate content cheaply and quickly, making paperwork more accessible and frequent than ever before.
Data from Sky News, based on internal sources and analysis, shows that across multiple channels—such as water company complaints, local authority grievances, and health service requests—the volume has increased by between 23% and 144% since late 2022. For example, complaints about water companies have risen by 144%, and those to local authorities by 78%.
Research indicates that much of this increase is attributable to AI-generated submissions. Sky News’s small test found that 89% of recent FOI requests flagged by AI detection tools as fully AI-written, compared to 0% from 2019, though experts caution that detection is not definitive. Similar patterns are observed internationally, with the UK Housing Ombudsman reporting a rise from approximately 2,600 complaints in 2022 to over 7,000 last year, and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau experiencing a fivefold increase in complaints over the same period.
In an academic survey, 58% of civil servants reported that AI-generated public content significantly impacts their work, describing it as overwhelming and exhausting. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued guidance in May affirming that AI-written FOI requests are valid, and authorities can request clarifications for ambiguous submissions.
UK public services · AI & administration · October 2026
Why Administrative Friction Won’t Halt AI’s Paperwork Growth in Britain
Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, complaints and information requests to public bodies have climbed. Cheap, accessible AI may be helping more people turn concerns into formal submissions.
Reported increase since late 2022
Reported increase across the same period
Evidence points to a growing influence, but detection tools cannot prove who wrote a submission.
Across selected UK public bodies
Flagged as fully AI-written in a small test
Flagged in the cited earlier sample
Say AI-generated public content significantly affects their work
01 / The acceleration
Paperwork volumes are rising across channels
Reported increases range from 23% to 144% since late 2022. The figures span complaints, grievances and requests handled by public bodies.
Bar lengths use a common scale for percentage changes. The Housing Ombudsman figures are complaint counts: approximately 2,600 in 2022 and more than 7,000 last year.
02 / Why the rise?
AI lowers the cost of making a case
For years, formal requests and complaints stayed comparatively stable. The post-2022 shift suggests that familiar administrative limits may be less effective when writing becomes quick and inexpensive.
Less effort to start
People can use AI to organize a concern, draft a request or produce a polished complaint without starting from a blank page.
More submissions, faster
Low-cost content generation can increase the number of interactions directed to authorities, including follow-ups and requests across multiple channels.
Workload meets limits
More incoming paperwork can strain staff time and processing systems, even when each individual submission is valid and manageable.
03 / Evidence & uncertainty
A strong signal, with important limits
AI detection results are suggestive rather than definitive. A flagged request does not establish its author, and the growth may also reflect people making greater use of their rights.
“The pattern of flat then accelerating volume since late 2022 suggests AI is fundamentally altering the scale and nature of bureaucratic communication.”Thorsten Meyer · AI researcher
“Much of the recent FOI requests are likely AI-generated.”Sky News source
AI-written FOI requests remain valid; authorities can seek clarification when submissions are unclear.UK ICO guidance · May 2026
04 / A changing workload
From easier drafting to policy choices
Public bodies face a practical question: how to maintain responsive services as the volume and form of citizen communication change.
AI makes drafting easier
People can turn questions or grievances into formal text quickly.
Submissions increase
Authorities receive more complaints, FOI requests and follow-ups.
Capacity comes under pressure
Staff and systems must process growing volumes while serving the public.
Responses take shape
Guidance, resources and processing rules may adapt to new demand.
International signal
Similar pressure is visible abroad
The UK is part of a wider pattern of rising public submissions, though agency figures cover different systems and should not be treated as direct comparisons.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau saw complaints increase fivefold over the period described. Together with the UK Housing Ombudsman’s rise to more than 7,000 complaints last year, the figures point to a broader challenge in managing citizen contact at scale.
05 / Questions to watch
What happens next?
Why has AI contributed to more requests?
Tools such as ChatGPT make it quicker and cheaper to draft formal paperwork, lowering the effort needed to contact public bodies.
Are all recent submissions AI-generated?
No. Detection tools suggest possible AI involvement but are not conclusive; many submissions may be written by people without AI.
What is the ICO’s position?
Its May guidance says AI-written FOI requests are valid. Authorities may ask for clarification when a request is ambiguous.
Could the trend overwhelm services?
Sustained growth could strain resources. Staffing, processing systems and policy may need to adjust to maintain service quality.
Impact of AI on UK Public Bureaucracy
This surge in administrative activity driven by AI challenges the traditional limits of bureaucratic management. It raises questions about resource allocation, workload, and the capacity of public agencies to respond effectively. The trend could reshape how governments handle citizen interactions, potentially leading to policy responses that either restrict or adapt to AI’s role in paperwork processing.
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Rise of AI and Historical Bureaucratic Limits
For over a decade, the volume of FOI requests and complaints in Britain remained relatively stable. The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a turning point, with the volume increasing sharply across various channels. This pattern aligns with international observations, where similar increases have been reported in the US and other jurisdictions. The British state’s reliance on paperwork, combined with AI’s ability to generate content at low cost, appears to have created a perfect storm for bureaucratic growth.
Government efforts to limit paperwork—such as stricter guidelines and resource constraints—have historically kept complaint volumes manageable. However, the advent of AI seems to have overridden these measures, leading to a sustained rise in citizen interactions with public bodies.
“The pattern of flat then accelerating volume since late 2022 suggests AI is fundamentally altering the scale and nature of bureaucratic communication.”
— Thorsten Meyer, AI researcher
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Extent and Impact of AI-Generated Content
While patterns strongly suggest AI’s role in increasing paperwork, definitive proof remains elusive. Detection tools are unreliable, and it is unclear how much of the rise is due solely to AI versus genuine citizen effort. The long-term impact on government capacity and policy responses is still uncertain, with ongoing debates about regulation and resource allocation.
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Government Responses and Policy Directions
Authorities are expected to consider measures to manage the surge, such as stricter verification of requests, enhanced AI detection, or new regulations limiting AI-generated submissions. Monitoring of complaint and request volumes will continue, alongside discussions on resource adjustments to handle the increased workload. Policy proposals may emerge within the next year to address these challenges explicitly.
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Key Questions
Why has AI caused a surge in public complaints and requests in Britain?
AI tools like ChatGPT have made generating paperwork cheaper and easier, leading to more frequent citizen submissions to public bodies since late 2022.
Are all the recent submissions AI-generated?
No, detection tools suggest a high likelihood, but they are not definitive. Many submissions may still be human, but the trend indicates AI’s significant influence.
What is the government doing about this increase?
Regulators like the ICO have issued guidance affirming AI-written requests are valid, and authorities are exploring measures to better identify and manage AI-generated content.
Will this trend continue?
Most analysts expect the growth to persist unless policy or technological interventions limit AI’s role in paperwork, but future developments remain uncertain.
Could this increase overwhelm public services?
There is concern that sustained growth may strain resources, requiring adjustments in staffing, processing systems, or policy to maintain service quality.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
