Public services across the globe are facing a dramatic surge in citizen complaints, driven largely by the ease of filing requests through AI-powered tools. In the United Kingdom, housing ombudsman complaints skyrocketed from 2,600 in 2022 to over 7,000 in 2025—a jump of approximately 169%. Brazil's INSS disability benefits program also appears in recent analysis, though specific figures remain undisclosed.
Researcher Chris Schmitz examined 84 cases across 11 different jurisdictions and found that AI has fundamentally lowered the barriers to filing complaints. By reducing the need to gather context, understand complex bureaucratic processes, and draft precise language, AI tools have made it far simpler for citizens to lodge formal requests. What once required substantial effort and expertise now takes minutes, democratizing access to complaint mechanisms but simultaneously straining government agencies already stretched thin.