Use of GenAI

Request

I’d like to know more about how government departments use GenAI.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to know the following:

• Are staff within the department under a general instruction to use AI or Generative AI tools to assist your work?
• Is your department currently using AI tools or Generative AI tools to assist your work? If so, what is your department’s budget for (Gen) AI tools?
• Has your department instructed the agencies and bodies working for your department to use AI as part of their work?
• Can you name the AI tools that your department uses?
• Does your department have an AI strategy?
• If your department does not have an AI strategy, is it planning to have an AI strategy?

Outcome

Some information provided.

Response

1. Are staff within the department [TNA] under a general instruction to use AI or Generative AI tools to assist your work?

TNA staff have not been issued a general instruction to use AI or generative AI in their work.

2. Is your department [TNA] currently using AI tools or Generative AI tools to assist your work? If so, what is your department’s budget for (Gen) AI tools?

Some of this information is available online. As such, Section 21 of the FOIA applies. Section 21 of the FOIA exempts information where information is reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means. We are, however, happy to advise you on where you can find this information.

A Parliamentary Question (PQ) was answered on 4 February 2025 which addresses the first part of this question: National Archives: Artificial Intelligence

TNA does not have a dedicated budget for AI. Requests for AI software are handled individually, usually as part of a larger contract.

3. Has your department [TNA] instructed the agencies and bodies working for your department to use AI as part of their work?

TNA has not instructed other agencies or bodies to use AI as part of their work.

4. Can you name the AI tools that your department uses?

Disclosing the specific AI tools used at TNA would likely prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and is therefore exempt under section 31(1) (a) of the FOI Act. Specifically, disclosure would likely prejudice cyber-security at The National Archives.

5. Does your department have an AI strategy?

TNA does not have an official AI strategy.

You may be interested to know, however, that TNA has an AI Policy. A copy of this has been attached for your reference.

6. If your department does not have an AI strategy, is it planning to have an AI strategy?

AI is one of the main thematic areas that is emerging as part of our corporate strategy review, and strategic conversations about AI have taken place with the National Archives’ Board and with the Executive Team.