Prime Minister Andy Burnham has placed artificial intelligence at the heart of government by appointing Lord Patrick Vallance as chair of a new AI Taskforce that will report directly to him. The move creates an empowered unit inside the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, designed to drive AI adoption across public services and shape national growth strategy with the speed of the Vaccines Taskforce model.
Taskforce sits inside the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
The unit will be housed alongside First Secretary of State Louise Haigh in the OPMC, which merges No.10, No.10 North and core Cabinet Office functions. AI Minister Kanishka Narayan will lead the Taskforce and attend Cabinet, while Vallance answers directly to the Prime Minister. The existing AI Security Institute will also move into the OPMC as part of the restructure.
Narayan, speaking about the role, said: "AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. That is why it is now at the UK Cabinet's table, so we can reindustrialise with AI, secure our country, and support our public services."
The government argues that giving a small, accountable team clear responsibility can produce faster results, drawing a direct comparison to the Vaccines Taskforce. Narayan reinforced that in a LinkedIn post, adding that he and Vallance would apply "the urgency and importance of the Vaccines Taskforce" to the central questions around artificial intelligence.
Vallance takes dual chair roles
Alongside chairing the AI Taskforce, Lord Vallance will lead the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, a partnership with local government, business and higher education that focuses on removing barriers to innovation and growth. The role expands his previous position as Ministerial Champion for the corridor.
Vallance was the UK's Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2018 to 2023 and president of R&D at GlaxoSmithKline before that. He served as Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear from 2024 and resigned on 20 July 2026, shortly before the formation of the Burnham ministry. He is best known for his leadership of the Vaccines Taskforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Burnham set a broad ambition: "AI is rapidly changing our world and we need to make sure it works for everyone. The opportunities are huge if we get it right and I want AI to power a new industrial revolution that drives good growth in every postcode."
Vallance added: "This government is sending a signal that's clearer than ever before about its commitment to realising the opportunities of AI and Science and Technology. The potential to transform public services, drive growth and improve people's lives is immense, and I intend to make sure we deliver on it."
First priorities: strategy and public sector adoption
The Taskforce's immediate work will direct and implement the government's overall AI strategy and enable AI adoption across the public sector. The AI Security Institute now sits inside the OPMC, giving the Taskforce a direct line to safety and security capabilities as it pushes the technology into government operations.
Why this matters for government professionals
A dedicated Taskforce reporting to the Prime Minister signals that AI is no longer a peripheral technology project but a cross-departmental priority. For civil servants, policy leads and delivery managers, the change means decisions about AI tools, data sharing and service redesign will increasingly be driven from the centre with an expectation of faster deployment. Understanding the strategic direction and the operational pressures it creates becomes essential, and for those building new skills, resources like AI for Government Courses can help teams navigate the shifting requirements.
Your membership also unlocks:
