Andy Burnham is to recruit a number of advisers to plug gaps in No 10, including an expert on how AI will affect society.

The roles advertised by Downing Street give a glimpse into the biggest challenges facing the prime minister – and what he has decided to prioritise.

The new hires will flesh out the threadbare No 10 policy unit – where many of the roles are still vacant after Keir Starmer’s departure. Senior sources have said the prime minister wanted to take time to recruit advisers.

The adviser on AI, who will be expected to have “deep expertise” in the sector, will be expected to lead preparations for the impact of the AI boom on the workforce, amid significant concerns for lower-level professional services jobs, in particular for new graduates.

They will also be expected to be the main adviser to Burnham on frontier AI, the effects and benefits of AI in public service transformation and other major societal impacts.

Several cabinet ministers have openly expressed concerns about the UK’s readiness…