Safety , Assurance, and Risk

Handbook

AI Integration in UK Public Service

A practical guidance for senior leaders on risk aware approaches to AI adoption across central government

January 2026

In this Handbook
Governance, Ethics, and Guardrails
Strategy and operating model
Data Foundations
Technology and Architecture
People, Skills and Culture
Public Trust, Transparency, and Engagement
Implementation Roadmap
Abstract

This handbook provides practical guidance for senior leaders, programme managers, and technical teams responsible for integrating artificial intelligence into UK public services. It has been developed in response to the growing need for structured, risk-aware approaches to AI adoption across central government departments, arm’s length bodies, and local authorities.