The 2026 Public Sector AI Readiness Report.
AI ambition is moving quickly across the UK public sector. But behind every promising use case is a less glamorous question: can the organisation trust the data it depends on? Legacy systems, fragmented information, inconsistent definitions and unclear ownership can all turn a compelling idea into a difficult operational reality. Drawing on public sector perspectives, expert voices and Binary10’s hands-on experience, this report explores a pattern we see repeatedly:
What the report exposes:
The report highlights three recurring themes shaping AI readiness across the public sector:
1. Confidence in current data is limited.
AI ambition is growing, but confidence in the data behind it is uneven. Fragmented information, inconsistent definitions and limited visibility across systems can make it difficult to know whether their data is ready to support reliable outcomes.
2. Data quality management is reactive.
Data-quality issues are often addressed when a migration, transformation programme or operational problem makes them impossible to ignore. Without continuous monitoring and clear ownership, the same issues can reappear.
3. The barriers are organisational as well as technical
Legacy systems and disconnected data are only part of the challenge. Becoming AI-ready requires stronger ownership, shared understanding and practical collaboration across the organisation.
If you are responsible for data, digital transformation or AI in the public sector, this report will help you look beyond the technology. It explores how to understand the data behind your AI ambitions, make the risks visible and take practical steps towards trusted, operational delivery.