Design or default? The big choice for AI in 2026

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/design-or-default-the-big-choice-for-ai-in-2026/203512/

Publish Date: 2026-01-14 06:18:00

Source Domain: www.openaccessgovernment.org

Choice Between Design and Default in AI: In 2026, the UK must decide whether to deliberately shape AI adoption in public services or risk becoming dependent on initial implementations that may lead to fragmentation and long-term inefficiencies.
Strategic Foundations Are Needed: The UK Government’s AI Action Plan and AI Playbook provide a positive strategic starting point, but effective implementation requires a focus on responsible AI, cross-government reuse, and skills development to avoid risks in execution.
Risks of Fragmentation and Proprietary Dependency: With concerns around skills, infrastructure, and the concentration of proprietary technology providers, the UK risks falling into a pattern similar to its fragmented cloud adoption, where AI stacks created by various departments lead to opacity, inefficiency, and high costs.
The Danger of Shadow AI: With shadow AI present in 85% of UK organizations, and considering the lack of interoperability, there is a need for strategic changes to prevent projects from proliferating without scaling.
Adoption of Enterprise Open Source for AI: A middle path embracing enterprise open source and open standards could allow the UK government to adopt mature AI capabilities collaboratively, avoiding vendor lock-in and enabling improved interoperability, auditability, and resilience.
Focus on Policy Outcomes and Strategies: Policy should prioritize flexible, open standards that allow for innovation, switching providers, and avoiding reliance on proprietary, opaque technologies that lack explainability.
Potential of AI for Economic and Public Sector Growth: By adopting open standards and focusing on common foundations, the UK can leverage AI for economic growth, improved public sector outcomes, and beneficial practices for emerging technologies like quantum computing.
The Ongoing Decision: The UK faces an ongoing decision on whether to proactively design its AI strategy to prevent future fragmentation and long-term dependence or to continue down the path of default, resulting in duplication and inefficient use of resources.