Britain is entering an era in which crises no longer come one at a time. Floods, heatwaves, storms, cyber-attacks, industrial disruptions, public health threats, and cascading infrastructure failures increasingly overlap. The nation is being challenged not only by the frequency of emergencies but by the growing complexity of the systems they overwhelm.
In this environment, the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence should support emergency management, but how. Among the various AI systems now available, ChatGPT stands out because it offers something traditional tools do not: the ability to translate data, context, and uncertainty into accessible, actionable information for responders, policymakers and the public.
This commentary examines the potential role of ChatGPT in the UK’s crisis-response architecture, focusing on benefits, limitations, governance needs and societal implications. It is written for the British public, who ultimately must decide how—indeed whether—AI becomes embedded in national resilience.
The UK’s emergency services are highly professional and dedicated, but they face immense pressures:
Climate-driven extremes increasing demand on fire and rescue services.
Ageing infrastructure, particularly around energy, utilities and transport.
The speed of digital threats, including ransomware attacks on hospitals and councils.
Wider expectations from citizens, who now expect instant information and 24/7 updates.
Crucially, emergencies increasingly generate information overload. A modern crisis produces thousands of data points per minute: sensor readings, CCTV streams, social-media posts, weather projections, operational logs, public queries and more. Humans cannot process this glut fast enough.
Traditional emergency models were built for situations where information was limited. Today, responders face the opposite problem. What is needed is not more data but a system that can interpret, prioritise, filter, summarise, and communicate information in real time.
This is where generative AI—particularly systems like ChatGPT—may play a transformative role.
ChatGPT is not a magic wand. It cannot replace trained professionals. But deployed responsibly, it can augment their capacity in areas where human time, attention and analytical bandwidth are in short supply.
ChatGPT can collate multiple streams of information—official briefings, historical data, geospatial reports, operational logs—and provide simplified summaries tailored to different audiences.
During a major flood, for example, it could:
Condense complex hydrological reports into bullet-point updates for ministers.
Translate technical terminology for the public.
Provide responders with scenario comparisons: “If rainfall continues at current rates, water levels in X are likely to cross Y threshold within Z hours.”
In fast-moving events, communication errors cost lives. ChatGPT can draft:
consistent public messages
multi-language advisories
myth-busting content
updates customised to local communities
Crucially, it can do this within minutes, maintaining a clear and calm tone even under severe pressure.
While it cannot “predict the future,” ChatGPT can help responders understand:
historical precedents
plausible scenarios
cascading risks
resource implications
conflicting data sources
This helps decision makers act faster, with clearer situational awareness.
Crises attract rumours faster than emergency vehicles. AI can help:
identify viral falsehoods early
generate counter-messages
craft rapid fact-checks
advise agencies on digital-strategy interventions
This is essential at a time when misinformation can spread more quickly than official warnings.
simulated emergency exercises
role-play scenarios
after-action reporting
skills training
policy evaluation
It offers a low-cost way for local authorities, volunteer groups and small organisations to strengthen resilience.
AI also introduces risks:
Hallucinations: AI may generate incorrect information with confidence.
Bias: Outputs can reflect biases in training data.
Overreliance: There is a danger that decision makers trust AI too much.
False authority: Public may interpret AI output as official truth.
Security threats: Malicious actors could manipulate prompts or inject false data.
Ethical concerns: Surveillance, privacy and accountability cannot be ignored.
For these reasons, human oversight must remain non-negotiable.
ChatGPT could act as a real-time analytic assistant for:
the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR)
regional resilience partnerships
local emergency control rooms
It could summarise updates, track tasking, produce quick situational reports, and flag inconsistencies.
Police, fire and ambulance services could use AI to:
draft briefings
manage call-centre triage
assist with incident logging
provide dynamic risk information
help with surge-demand communication
Imagine a 999 operator during a major storm receiving automatically condensed guidance on road closures, hospital capacity and power outages as the situation evolves.
Councils and local resilience forums often lack the staff and budgets of national agencies. ChatGPT can:
assist with emergency-plan drafting
create targeted messages for vulnerable groups
help volunteers understand procedures
support community-level coordination
This democratises resilience capabilities.
During a future pandemic, AI could:
explain evolving guidance
support public-information campaigns
summarise scientific papers for policymakers
help NHS trusts coordinate messages
This reduces communication bottlenecks that hinder public trust.
In energy blackouts, water contamination events or transport network failures, ChatGPT can support:
rapid public warnings
automated Q&A systems
scenario briefings for operators
cross-sector coordination
These sectors already operate vast digital systems; AI can help make sense of them under pressure.
(These are hypothetical examples for illustration.)
As Storm Idris brings record snowfall:
ChatGPT drafts unified warnings for motorists.
Provides instant summaries of Met Office updates.
Generates scripts for broadcast media.
Translates alerts into multiple languages for diverse communities.
Helps responders prioritise rescue requests based on severity descriptions.
Thames Water detects contamination in a treatment centre:
ChatGPT generates easily understandable boil-water notices.
Helps officials respond quickly to thousands of public queries.
Summarises technical lab reports into actionable briefings.
Creates targeted guidance for hospitals, care homes and schools.
A ransomware attack hits multiple hospitals:
ChatGPT produces consistent messages for staff and patients.
Helps assess patterns in incoming reports across trusts.
Provides a centralised source of myth-busting information.
During a record heatwave:
ChatGPT targets vulnerable populations with tailored advice.
Helps councils prepare cooling-centre information.
Synthesises ambulance surge data.
Supports media outlets with pre-approved safety messaging.
AI should enhance—not replace—human judgement.
Critical decisions must remain:
human-led
documented
accountable
Citizens must know:
when AI is being used
how outputs are generated
who is responsible for oversight
This builds trust.
Models must be continually tested to ensure:
accurate multi-language output
fair representation of diverse communities
equitable public-health messaging
Any deployment must protect:
sensitive data
operational details
critical infrastructure systems
Cybersecurity standards must be strict.
Emergency-management AI will only succeed if the British public finds it trustworthy.
This means:
open debate about benefits and risks
clear opt-out options where appropriate
strong data-protection rules
public involvement in design and oversight
AI in emergencies must serve people—not the other way around.
Pilot projects with local authorities and NHS trusts
ChatGPT-assisted communication hubs
Training programmes for responders
Public-facing Q&A services for non-critical contexts
Integration into multi-agency command structures
AI-assisted simulation exercises
Automated misinformation detection tools
AI-enhanced national resilience planning
Comprehensive ethical and oversight frameworks
Community-facing resilience chatbots tailored to local risks
Britain has a chance to lead the world in using AI to strengthen national resilience—but only if it does so responsibly. ChatGPT is not a replacement for human expertise. It is a tool that can amplify the effectiveness of professionals, improve communication with the public, and ensure that life-saving information reaches those who need it faster than ever before.
The UK’s emergency-management system has always been strongest when it evolves ahead of the threats it faces. Integrating AI into crisis response is the next logical step. If done well, it could make the country safer, more resilient, and better prepared for the uncertain future ahead.
