United Kingdom · guidance
UK Pro-Innovation AI: what it requires, and the records to keep
The UK has no general AI statute: existing regulators interpret five cross-sector principles within their own remits, backed by central coordination and the AI Security Institute. The government has said it will legislate for the most powerful models when ready, but as of October 2026 no AI bill has been introduced.
01 / What it requires
What UK Pro-Innovation AI requires
UK sector regulators (such as the ICO, FCA, CMA, Ofcom and MHRA), which apply the principles to organisations they already supervise.
- 01Regulators apply the principle of safety, security and robustness to AI in their sectors.
- 02Regulators apply appropriate transparency and explainability expectations.
- 03Regulators apply fairness, accountability and governance expectations using existing law.
- 04Regulators ensure routes for contestability and redress against harmful AI outcomes.
- 05Organisations comply with existing law that applies to AI, such as UK GDPR, the Equality Act 2010 and consumer law.
02 / AI work
Where it touches AI work
The principles are written for AI, but obligations on businesses come only from existing law and regulator guidance in each sector. Frontier developers participate in voluntary pre-deployment testing with the AI Security Institute.
03 / Dates
The dates that matter
AI regulation White Paper published
Government response confirms principles-based, regulator-led approach
King's Speech pledges legislation for the most powerful AI models
AI Opportunities Action Plan published
New parliamentary session opens without an AI bill
04 / Enforcement
Who enforces it
No AI-specific enforcement or penalties; existing regulators enforce existing laws with their own powers and penalties.
05 / Records
Records an organisation keeps
What an auditor or an inquiry usually asks to see. Your obligations depend on your role and your facts.
- 01Mapping of AI uses to the relevant sector regulator's guidance
- 02Data protection impact assessments covering AI processing
- 03Fairness and equality testing results for AI-assisted decisions
- 04Records of explanations and challenge routes offered to affected people
Optional evidence · where Planisphere fits
Keep a record anyone can check
When your team meets a duty, Planisphere can seal the event it reports as a receipt.
A disclosure shown, a review signed, a model change approved: the event your system reports.
The event becomes a sealed receipt, dated and attributed to whoever is signed in.
Paste the receipt into Verify. No account or key.
A record supports your compliance evidence process. It is not a legal finding or a certification. Systems that call Planisphere's gate API can also hold or refuse an action before it runs.
QUESTIONS
The questions that come next
Does the UK have an AI law?+
No. The UK has no general AI statute. It follows the principles-based approach set out in the March 2023 White Paper and the February 2024 government response: existing regulators such as the ICO, FCA, CMA and Ofcom apply five principles to AI using their current powers. The July 2024 King's Speech said the government would seek legislation for developers of the most powerful AI models, but the King's Speech of 13 May 2026, which set the programme for the current session, listed no AI bill. Read the full answer
Is Canada's AIDA in force?+
No. The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act was part of Bill C-27, which never got past committee stage in the House of Commons. The bill died when the parliamentary session ended on 6 January 2025, so AIDA never became law. Any federal AI statute would need a new bill. Until then, AI use in Canada falls under existing privacy, human rights and consumer protection law. Read the full answer
SOURCES
Go back to the source
UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
CHANGE LOG
What changed, and when
Rebuilt from primary sources; facts checked on this date.
Related: China AI Labelling · India IT Rules (SGI) · Korea AI Framework Act