A new central UK government AI unit has been launched to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence across public services and the wider economy. Announced on 24 July 2026, the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce will be chaired by Lord Vallance, led by the new AI minister Kanishka Narayan and will report directly to Downing Street. The government says the unit’s mission is to transform public services with AI while driving growth and adoption across the country.
Who is leading the unit and where it sits
The Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce will be chaired by Lord Vallance and led by AI minister Kanishka Narayan, who will oversee its work and reporting to No 10. The government said the unit will report to Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and Narayan, embedding clear lines of accountability into the centre of decision-making. It will be based with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh in the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC). Responsibility for the existing AI Security Institute will also move to the OPMC as part of the new arrangements.
Details of the launch have been set out publicly, including the creation of the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce and its position within the OPMC. The government added that the unit will learn lessons from the Vaccines Taskforce, signalling an intent to adopt proven delivery approaches for fast-moving technology policy.
What the Taskforce aims to achieve
The unit’s stated aims are twofold: to transform public services with AI and to drive growth and AI adoption nationwide. Placing a single team in charge of this brief is intended to help departments and public bodies apply AI where it can improve outcomes and unlock efficiency, while supporting broader uptake across the country. The government said it will draw on the experience of the Vaccines Taskforce to guide decision-making, partnerships and implementation.
The Taskforce will report to senior leadership in Whitehall, including the Cabinet Secretary and the AI minister, with oversight from Downing Street. Its base in the OPMC is designed to align its work with the First Secretary of State’s portfolio, while responsibility for the AI Security Institute moving into the OPMC consolidates key AI functions under one roof.
Part of a wider government reshuffle on AI
The move follows a major government reshuffle on AI under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. As part of those changes, Narayan was appointed to attend cabinet and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) was axed as a standalone entity. The new structure brings AI strategy and delivery closer to the centre of government, with the Taskforce led from the OPMC and reporting directly into senior officials and ministers.
Further background on the launch and structural changes has been published, including the Taskforce’s location within the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and its leadership under Lord Vallance and Kanishka Narayan.
Prime Minister’s message
Andy Burnham said: “AI is rapidly changing our world and we need to make sure it works for everyone… Lord Vallance is a true public servant with decades of experience, expertise and a track record of delivery. I’m delighted he’ll be chairing the AI Taskforce…”
What this means for readers and what happens next
For residents and businesses, the priorities set out for the Taskforce point to a push on applying AI within public services and encouraging wider adoption across the country. With clear reporting lines to the Cabinet Secretary and the AI minister, and a base within the OPMC alongside the First Secretary of State, the unit has been positioned to coordinate work across departments. Responsibility for the AI Security Institute moving to the OPMC is intended to bring related capabilities into the same place.
Readers interested in how fiscal conditions shape public services can explore our explainer on borrowing costs and public services. We will continue to follow how the Taskforce develops its programme and how its work is applied to services people use every day.
