On 21 July 2025, the UK Government and OpenAI signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), outlining the government’s hopes to work together more closely on AI innovation. You can read the official text here.

The government hopes this partnership will support:

Public sector adoption: Exploring how advanced AI models might help civil servants work more efficiently and help citizens and small businesses navigate public services. The plan includes trialling solutions across areas like justice, defence & security, and education technology.

Infrastructure development: Looking into investment in AI Growth Zones—areas promoted under the AI Opportunities Action Plan that aim to boost UK-based data centres and infrastructure—and building sovereign AI capabilities.

Technical collaboration: Enhancing exchange between OpenAI and the UK’s AI Security Institute, sharing insights into AI model capabilities and security risks, and jointly developing safeguards.

Why it matters

This agreement indicates the government's intentions and ambitions, not binding commitments. It reflects broader UK policy goals to foster AI within a values-based framework: promoting public-sector innovation, strengthening domestic infrastructure, and safeguarding AI use.

Yet, critics have raised concerns about transparency, especially around data access and governance. The MoU’s vagueness may spark calls for clearer safeguards and stronger accountability.