Director of Audit Nelson Lam said on Sunday that the Audit Commission will hold workshops, including some on the application of artificial intelligence, for government departments and public bodies as the government moves to cut costs.

In February, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in his Budget that he had asked the commission to organise workshops to help civil service management reduce expenditure.

"Our audit reports also mentioned suggestions on using AI and related technologies. We hope these suggestions can be in our workshops," he said while appearing on a television programme.

Lam said he believes AI is suitable for data processing work and that AI may help his own department produce more in-depth audit reports.

Lam said the workshops would take place in the second half of the year.