Monthly recap: AI & data in government

Data and AI are becoming increasingly fundamental to the modern state, as the government furthers its ambition to leverage the latest technologies in pursuit of economic growth and citizen-centred public services.

This drive has taken on a new character since the introduction of a new cabinet, as Andy Burnham seeks to adopt a radically different approach to technology in his attempt to restructure government.

Below are some of the main government data and AI stories of the past month, from the announcement of new units, to data as a tool for devolution, to the widening of upskilling schemes for disadvantaged young people.

An AI Taskforce is created

Artificial intelligence is to become a key area of focus for government with the founding of an “AI Taskforce”.

The taskforce will be situated in the newly-created Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC) at the core of government. It has been entrusted with using AI to transform public services and pursue growth, as well as with enabling AI adoption in the public sector.

This announcement follows the appointment of Kanishka Narayan as the UK’s first “AI Minister”, a role which provides him with a seat in the Cabinet. His responsibilities include AI policy, data infrastructure, AI growth zones, AI for science, Sovereign AI, and AI innovation and economy-wide adoption.

Narayan will lead the AI Taskforce as well as the pre-existing AI Security Institute, which has also been moved to the OPMC. 

The chair of the taskforce will be Lord Vallance, who led the Vaccines Taskforce as the UK’s Government Chief Scientific Adviser during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Central government to share data with mayoral authorities in devolution drive

A common data-sharing model between Whitehall and mayoral authorities is to be developed as part of a scheme to increase access to government data and build digital, data, and AI capacity at the local level.

The “Digital Devolution” programme will seek to expand AI and data skills training, help local leaders improve public services through AI, and pursue economic growth.
It was one of a package of measures to local mayors announced by No 10 North on Friday, as the central government continues to devolve power to local areas.

Other measures included seconding civil servants into mayoral authorities to deliver a “once-in-a-generation devolution settlement”, and an expansion of a Civil Service programme developing potential ‘future leaders’ to mayoral and local authority officials.

North West AI skills bootcamp launched for disadvantaged young people

The government’s pioneering AI skills bootcamp, aimed at young people who are currently unemployed, or at risk of unemployment after leaving school, has begun in the north-west.

The TechFirst AI Apprenticeship Pathway will provide participants with AI and workplace skills training, delivered by AI training company IN4 in partnership with a number of businesses and AI skills organisations.

Learnings from the programme will be used to inform an AI skills and early careers scheme which will be rolled out across England from summer 2027.

This pilot seeks to give 70 people aged between 16 and 21 the ability to build AI tools, as well as an understanding of how businesses use AI and how to ensure responsible AI use. Participants will also be taught key workplace skills.

This is a continuation of the wider work of the TechFirst skills programme, which has helped over 100,000 young people since summer 2025 and will roll out to schools from September.

Similar initiatives have also been implemented at the local level, such as in Barnsley, where two schemes have been implemented to equip jobseekers with AI skills.
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For civil servants, what is clear is that AI and data are gaining prominence as tools to better economic growth and improve service delivery for citizens.

The challenge will be ensuring that skills and capability develop alongside the technology, both within Whitehall and across the wider public sector.