The AI Policy Pulse.
Keep pace with the evolving landscape of the UK’s AI governance.
Since publishing the National AI Strategy in 2021, the UK government has implemented several key policies to shape its approach to artificial intelligence.
In March 2023, the government released its AI Regulation White Paper, establishing five core regulatory principles—safety, transparency, fairness, accountability, and contestability—with voluntary guidance provided to sector regulators.
Later that year, in November 2023, the UK hosted the first global AI Safety Summit, resulting in the Bletchley Declaration, highlighting the need for international cooperation on AI risks. Following this, the government established the AI Safety Institute to evaluate frontier AI models.
The independent, but government backed, AI Opportunities Action Plan (January 2025) provided further detailed recommendations to accelerate AI adoption across the economy.
At the same time, the publication of the Blueprint for a Modern Digital Government (January 2025) and the Artificial Intelligence Playbook (February 2025) offered practical frameworks for integrating AI into public services responsibly, securely, and transparently.
The devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also shaped AI policy in line with local priorities. Scotland, through its dedicated Artificial Intelligence Strategy, has prioritised trustworthy and inclusive AI, introducing a public-sector AI Register. Wales has embedded AI into its digital strategy, with an emphasis on ethical use, workforce protections, and support for the Welsh language. Northern Ireland, though without a formal strategy, is progressing through initiatives like the AI Castle Conversation, and has emerged as a UK leader in AI-enabled cybersecurity and FinTech.
A more comprehensive and detailed account of the UK’s evolving AI policy landscape, from 2021 through to April 2025, can be found here.
A timeline of events.
From groundbreaking research partnerships to new regulatory frameworks, each entry on this timeline represents a step towards defining how we'll live and work alongside AI.
To view the the specific policies, guidance and frameworks shaping the UK's AI future, take a look at the AI Policy Blueprint >
🟡 AI Ethics & Safety
🔴 Gov. Strategy & Partnerships
🔵 AI Policy & Regulation
🟢 International AI Cooperation
⚫ AI Progress & Evidence
Click on an event to learn more.