Potholes are a persistent issue plaguing roads across the UK, causing damage to vehicles and posing safety risks to drivers, but can AI fix our pothole problem? The government seems to think so. They believe that artificial intelligence (AI) could be the solution to this problem. In the recently unveiled UK Government AI Opportunities Action Plan, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced ambitious plans to use AI to detect and repair potholes more efficiently.

The idea behind this plan is to use AI to identify potential potholes before they form, allowing for quicker and cheaper repairs. According to This is Money, the government has pledged £7 million in funding for AI projects aimed at improving road maintenance. One of the key examples of this technology in action is Surrey County Council’s use of AI-equipped dashcams to spot and photograph potholes, which are then automatically recorded for repair.
Despite the government’s optimism, not everyone is convinced that AI is the silver bullet for fixing potholes. A survey by Auto Express found that while 46% of drivers support the use of AI to detect potholes, 26% oppose it, preferring that the government invest more in fixing existing potholes. The RAC reported a 17% increase in pothole-related breakdowns in the final quarter of 2024, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
The government’s plan is not without precedent. According to This is Money, crowd-sourcing app called Stan uses AI to analyze video and images recorded by drivers’ smartphones to flag road surface issues. This app, along with other AI technologies, aims to make road inspections safer and more efficient by eliminating the need for manual inspections.
However, critics argue that the government’s focus on AI is a distraction from the real issue, says The Register: underinvestment in road maintenance. The AA reported that total pothole damage to vehicles rose to £579 million in 2024, compared to £474 million in 2023. Some believe that the government should prioritize fixing existing potholes rather than investing in new technologies.

Despite the skepticism, the government remains committed to its AI-driven approach. The AI Opportunities Action Plan includes a Digital Center of Government to pilot and scale AI solutions across the public sector, according to The Register. The Prime Minister has emphasized that AI is not just a tool for businesses but a force for change that can improve public services and reconnect staff with the reasons they entered public service.
The potential benefits of AI in road maintenance are significant. According to UK Research and Innovation a UK start-up called Robotiz3d has developed an autonomous robot that uses AI to locate and fix cracks and potholes. This technology, which combines AI with advanced robotics, can assess and predict the severity of defects, sealing them before they worsen, says UK Research and Innovation. The company claims that this approach can reduce the time, cost, and environmental impact of road repairs while improving road safety.
While the government’s AI-driven approach to pothole repair is still in its early stages, it represents a forward-thinking attempt to address a long-standing problem, which we’re completely here for. Whether AI will be the ultimate solution remains to be seen, but it is clear that innovative technologies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of road maintenance.