Piers Kelly
Head of Marketing, GovNet Technology
As the UK Government rolls out its ambitious AI Opportunities Action Plan, central and local authorities are pioneering ethical AI to reshape services, from central government policy to frontline council operations.
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, launched in 2025, aims to make the UK a global leader in responsible AI, backed by a £14 billion investment and 50 strategic recommendations for public services.
The AI playbook
The UK’s AI transformation is being driven by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) 10-principle playbook. The framework mandates ethical deployment with human oversight across critical citizen services. All departments must follow Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards while over 1 million civil servants receive AI training. Current implementations include GOV.UK’s AI chat function and Crown Commercial Service (CCS) procurement tools — all operating within strict safeguards.
Local innovation: Camden and Newham lead the way
At a local level, councils are proving AI’s transformative potential; from Camden’s AI Campus, where Google DeepMind trains under-represented students, to Newham’s Centre for AI, officially launched at the 2024 DigiGov Expo, which tackles housing shortages, social care pressures and climate challenges through predictive modelling. These initiatives align with the national plan’s goal to ‘boost productivity by 1.5% annually,’ demonstrating how community-driven AI solutions can pave the way for nationwide impact.
Ethics at the core
The Government’s unwavering commitment to Principle 2 of the AI Playbook (‘Use AI lawfully, ethically and responsibly’) is demonstrated through concrete safeguards across critical services. The NHS ensures all AI-generated cancer screenings undergo rigorous human validation while the DWP implements continuous monitoring to eliminate bias in welfare eligibility algorithms. ‘AI must serve people, not the other way around,’ emphasises Minister Feryal Clark, underscoring how these protective measures keep citizen welfare at the heart of technological advancement.
AI must serve people, not
the other way around.
Examining AI implementation
The DigiGov Expo (24–25 September) has introduced a specialised ‘AI Theatre’ to examine approaches to AI implementation across government, including infrastructure development and local service applications while facilitating discussion between government and technology suppliers on practical challenges. With £47 billion in projected annual economic gains, the UK’s AI future hinges on this dual approach: national ambition grounded in local experimentation.
