FOI request (FOIR-683015257)

AI Readiness in the UK Public Sector

Requested Thu 30 January 2025
Responded Wed 05 February 2025

We are writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We are conducting research into the UK public sector's readiness to harness the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in light of the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Our research aims to understand the current state of AI adoption, infrastructure, and skills development within UK public sector departments and agencies. We are particularly interested in exploring:

• AI Strategies and Implementation: The existence and implementation of AI strategies aligned with the national action plan.

• Data and Infrastructure: The availability of robust data and infrastructure to support AI initiatives, including considerations around data residency, sovereignty, and security.

• Risk Management and Ethics: Measures in place to mitigate risks associated with AI, including bias, data protection, and transparency.

• Skills and Training: Efforts to upskill the public sector workforce to effectively utilise AI technologies.

We are producing educational documentary material aimed at informing and supporting the UK public sector in its AI journey. As part of our qualitative research, we are keen to gather diverse perspectives and insights. If anyone within your department would be interested in discussing these topics further, we would be delighted to arrange a conversation.

Please select the options in the following survey that most closely align with your organisation. Our preference is responses via the following link for data analysis reasons.

****Link Redacted****

However, we have also attached the raw questions in word document format.

Response

Hastings Borough Council holds no information in respect of this request.

Hastings Borough Council is in the process of establishing a working group to look at AI and the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan and will be completing the Local Digital AI Readiness Survey.