2026 is set to be an incredibly exciting year for the digital industry, particularly across the public sector, and it all begins with a major opportunity for you to help shape the future of digital government.
To start the year, the AI Engineering Lab is driving AI adoption across public sector software teams by helping them to implement AI coding assistants by offering technical support and training for anyone who uses them.
This work builds on the positive results of the AI Coding Assistant (AICA) trial we ran in 2025, which found significant potential for improving efficiency and delivery.
Most importantly, this is a project which will evolve and adapt as we evaluate and learn along the way.
Here’s why you need to get involved, especially if you’re part of the digital and data in the public sector!
What is AI Engineering Lab?
AI Engineering Lab is being led by the Engineering Excellence team in
Government Digital Service (GDS), and its role is to drive sustained and impactful adoption of AI tooling in software engineering teams across the public sector. This includes the training and management of AI enablement, not just the technical implementation of tooling.
Its main aims are to:
- integrate AI tooling for teams throughout the entire software development lifecycle
- upskill government digital and data professionals to make the most of AI tooling
- monitor and evaluate where AI tooling can enhance digital service delivery
AI Engineering Lab is a user-led project, which means that your input will help to determine how, where and why AI is used, and where it shouldn’t be.
What’s happening in early 2026
Starting in early 2026, we’ll roll out licences for leading AI tools, including:
- Microsoft Copilot
- Gemini
- Amazon Q or Kiro
- Claude
We’ll be adding more tools later on, and these licences will be available for up to six months. During this time, we’ll also provide support for technical setup, integration and training.
These tools will be available to all public sector departments and organisations, although there are a limited number of licences available.
We’ll also be organising events such as hackathons and community meetings. You don’t need to be an expert to take part – anyone with an interest in how AI can or should be used in software engineering is welcome to join in.
Get involved
This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of digital government, and there are many ways that you can get involved. These include:
- signing up for licences for AI coding assistants
- accessing training and guidance
- providing feedback and examples of how these tools are used in your organisation
- coming to events and sharing your experiences
To take part in AI Engineering Lab, contact us at gdsengineeringexcellence@dsit.gov.uk
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