An “AI Playbook for the UK Government” has been released by the UK Government Digital Service – 5 key questions answered

On 10 February 2025, the UK Government Digital Service released an “Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government” (AI Playbook). It is intended to support UK public sector employees with understanding AI and the best practices to use when deploying and procuring it (whether an off-the-shelf product, with bolt-on AI elements, outsourcing the AI build or co-creating AI with suppliers). In this article, we consider five key questions. 

1. Who should be aware of the new AI Playbook?

Those in UK government and in all public sector organisations should refer to the AI Playbook when planning to deploy or procure AI solutions. 

The AI Playbook will also be relevant to companies working with the UK public sector. For example, AI developers looking to supply AI solutions to government bodies.

Whilst the AI Playbook is designed for a UK public sector audience, most of the content of the AI Playbook is of general relevance to public sector organisations on an international basis.

2. What is the Government Digital Service responsible for?

The UK Government Digital Service (GDS), which created the playbook, is responsible for improving digital services across the public sector within the UK. It is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. One of its goals is to understand the potential of AI and to use it to help deliver public services where it makes sense to do so. 

3. What is contained in the AI Playbook?

The AI Playbook updates and expands the previous “Generative AI Framework for HM Government” which had been released a year earlier.  

The AI Playbook is intended to “support the public sector in better understanding what AI can and cannot do, and how to mitigate the risks” brought by AI. It is intended to help ensure that AI systems are deployed in responsible ways, where the security, wellbeing, and trust of the public are safeguarded.

It comprises 4 sections:

(a) Principles

The playbook contains 10 core principles to guide the safe, responsible and effective use of AI in government and public sector organisations. They build on the 5 principles in the previous government’s AI White Paper:

• Principle 1: You know what AI is and what its limitations are
• Principle 2: You use AI lawfully, ethically and responsibly
• Principle 3: You know how to use AI securely
• Principle 4: You have meaningful human control at the right stage
• Principle 5: You understand how to manage the AI life cycle
• Principle 6: You use the right tool for the job
• Principle 7: You are open and collaborative
• Principle 8: You work with commercial colleagues from the start
• Principle 9: You have the skills and expertise needed to implement and use AI
• Principle 10: You use these principles alongside your organisation’s policies and have the right assurance in place

(b) Understanding AI

This section covers:

(i) explanations of key terms used in AI, such as artificial intelligence, neural networks, machine learning, generative AI and agentic AI;

(ii) how AI can be used in government, for example to suggest first drafts of routine email responses; and

(iii) the limitations of AI systems, such as bias, accuracy and explainability. 

(c) Building AI solutions

This section sets out the steps those in the public sector should take when “building” AI solutions, including buying AI and running the procurement. 

As mentioned above, procuring AI includes whether it’s an off-the-shelf product, with bolt-on AI elements, outsourcing the AI build or co-creating AI with suppliers.

(d) Using AI safely and responsibly

This section explains the steps involved to ensure those in the public sector build AI solutions in a safe and responsible way, taking into account: 

(i) legal considerations;
(ii) ethics;
(iii) data protection;
(iv) privacy;
(v) security; and
(vi) governance.

When addressing the legal considerations, the playbook highlights areas where those working in the public sector may want to seek legal advice. For example, on data protection, contractual issues, intellectual property including copyright, equality issues and public law principles. 

The Appendix sets out example AI use cases in the public sector and the challenges and solutions involved.

4. How does the AI Playbook relate to the “AI Opportunities Action Plan”?

The recently published “AI Opportunities Action Plan”, led by Matt Clifford and endorsed by Sir Keir Starmer, recommended (among other things) that “the public sector should rapidly pilot and scale AI products and services”. It explained that there are cases of AI being used effectively in the public sector but that such cases are often on a small scale and in silos. The Action Plan stated that scaling these successes in the public sector is “essential” in order to have a meaningful impact on productivity, effectiveness and citizen experience. It recommended that the government adopts a “scan > pilot > scale” approach to deploying AI solutions in the public sector. 

The AI Playbook is intended to provide support and guidance to those in the public sector who are planning to deploy AI. It is not intended to enact the public sector recommendations that were set out in the Action Plan (this is expected to start in Summer 2025 according to the Government Response). Accordingly, it does not cover scaling up successful AI pilots. However, at a high level the AI Playbook is consistent with the Action Plan in that it is intended to assist with and facilitate the public sector’s adoption of AI, something that Clifford is keen to encourage.

One point to note is that approximately half of the AI Playbook is dedicated to the section on “Using AI safely and responsibly”. This indicates that a top priority for the GDS is AI safety whereas in Clifford’s Action Plan the overall emphasis was on harnessing the benefits of AI to achieve economic growth.  

For further details on the Action Plan, see our article here.

5. What impact will the AI Playbook have?

Public sector bodies vary enormously in terms of size, funding, skills, and more. It remains to be seen whether one playbook can effectively apply to all the different public bodies. 

For AI developers looking to supply AI solutions to government bodies, familiarisation with the playbook (together with other government guidance on AI) may be helpful in:

1. providing an understanding of public sector bodies' key objectives and priorities when purchasing AI solutions; 
2. aligning AI solutions with the playbook’s best practice guidance; and 
3. enabling suppliers to engage in meaningful discussions and potential collaboration with public sector bodies through formal pre-market engagement or informal conversations on current or future procurement opportunities.