UK PM Burnham's speechwriter caught using ChatGPT to draft speech

The aide was spotted using the AI chatbot while travelling on a train from London Euston to Holyhead on Friday (Photo credit: Daily Mail).

An anonymous Downing Street speechwriter was reportedly caught using ChatGPT to help prepare a keynote address for British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, prompting criticism from the opposition.According to The Mail on Sunday, the aide was spotted using the AI chatbot while travelling on a train from London Euston to Holyhead on Friday. The speechwriter was reportedly working on Burnham's address to Welsh Labour members in Llandudno, delivered on Saturday.The newspaper reported that the aide used ChatGPT to make parts of the speech more "emotive", including a section criticising former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's legacy.The chatbot reportedly suggested references to the decline of working men's clubs, choirs and other social institutions as Britain moved away from its industrial base.In his speech, Burnham said Thatcher's premiership in the 1980s had shattered the way of life in communities across Britain, citing the closure of mines, factories and steelworks. He also referred to the loss of workplaces and social institutions, including working men's clubs, sports teams, choirs and trade unions.

The aide was also seen drafting references to the cost-of-living crisis. Burnham subsequently told the Welsh Labour gathering that tackling the issue was a priority, saying it was the top concern in Wales as well as across the UK.Reform UK Party chairman Lee Anderson criticised the aide's conduct and accused Burnham's government of lacking a plan to address the cost-of-living crisis. He also questioned the prime minister's public image, describing his presentation as artificial.The report comes as Burnham faces opposition within Labour over proposed welfare reforms aimed at helping young people move from benefits into employment. Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn is expected to outline plans involving billions of pounds in upfront investment to help young people find jobs, alongside reductions in benefits for those aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training.

Burnham is expected to address Labour MPs on Tuesday to seek support for the proposed changes. He is also due to attend a Brussels summit on Friday, which he has described as an opportunity to begin discussions on future relations between Britain and the European Union.