Webinars launched to help Scottish public sector get to grips with AI ‘challenge’

A series of webinars have been launched to help Scottish public sector organisations get to grips with this year’s Futurescot AI Challenge competition.

Three 60-minute online sessions will be hosted next month to help local government, the NHS and wider public services understand how to apply for the challenge, as well as to potentially submit joint bids for shared use cases.

Organised by Futurescot, in collaboration with digital transformation partner Storm ID, the sessions will be hosted on June 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

During the webinars attendees will also receive guidance on how to develop a strong and credible Challenge entry, and guidance on how to identify business problems that AI can help solve.

The local government session on June 2nd will explore the specific pressures facing Scottish councils today, from increasing service demand to constrained budgets, and how AI can be applied pragmatically to address these challenges.

Whilst the NHS session on June 3rd will take a look at the operational and clinical pressures facing the NHS, and where AI can support improved outcomes, efficiency, and patient experience.

Finally, on June 4th, a Scottish public services session will take a deep dive on cross-sector opportunities, common automation patterns, and where collaboration can unlock greater value.

Stewart Cruickshank, Consulting Director at Storm ID, said: “The launch of these sector-focused webinars is an exciting development for this year’s AI Challenge.

“Based on the experience of running the challenge over the last couple of years, we often see shared problem statements across the different domains of public services, whether it’s local government, the NHS or social care, or government agencies.”

He added: “Hopefully, by setting aside some time to look more deeply into how AI is being considered across these different domains, we will be able to provide a deeper and more relevant understanding of the technology, and how it can be applied.”

The Futurescot AI Challenge is a Scotland-wide initiative designed to help public sector organisations turn promising AI ideas into practical, real-world solutions.

It supports teams from initial concept through to a working proof of concept, with guidance, peer learning, and hands-on support from Storm ID along the way.  

The Challenge is open to organisations across government, local authorities, health and social care, and wider public services, with a focus on using AI responsibly to improve outcomes for citizens, increase productivity, and make better use of limited resources.  

The process runs from now through to Digital Scotland in November, including webinars, shortlisting, and a supported PoC phase, culminating in a final showcase of ideas with real potential for impact across Scotland’s public services.  

Storm ID will also be on hand at Futurescot’s upcoming Public Sector AI conference on Thursday, May 22nd, at the Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

The company will be hosting a session – Closing the Implementation Gap – Turning AI Ambition into Operational Reality – which will look at how the public sector can move beyond AI pilots to business adoption and impact.

Cruickshank added: “Public Digital AI is a great opportunity to explore ideas early, get feedback, sense-check where AI could add value, and understand what makes a strong submission.

“If you’ve got an idea you’d like to discuss, or want to explore how it could be developed further, come and have a chat with the team. And if you’d prefer to set aside some dedicated time, feel free to email ai@stormid.com to arrange a meeting in advance. We look forward to seeing you there!”