‘AI clog’: UK public bodies battle onslaught of chatbot-generated complaints

UK MPs, councils and other public bodies say chatbot-generated complaints and requests are increasing their workloads, as short prompts can produce lengthy, formal-sounding correspondence that takes staff much longer to assess. The trend, described by some as “AI clog”, matters because organisations already facing limited resources must handle more complex communication without extra funding.

A caseworker in a Labour MP’s office says about half the emails they receive now involve AI in some form, while local authorities report more complaints and appeals, including over parking decisions. The Information Commissioner’s Office found many public authorities received more requests in 2025, and said AI-generated requests can be long, repetitive, broad or difficult to interpret. The article notes that chatbots can help people navigate administrative and legal processes, but their outputs may be unreliable.