Groups and networks

Organiser: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)

What: The AI Advisory Council is a government-appointed body providing independent expert advice on artificial intelligence policy. It brings together specialists from academia, business, law, security, social sciences, economics, and civil society. The Council exists to:

• Offer guidance and recommendations to government on emerging AI issues
• Develop its own workplan to advise on priority AI policy topics, trends, opportunities, and challenges
• Engage in public communications to demystify AI and promote trustworthy, ethical, and person-centred AI

You don’t have to be in an AI role to follow its work, but you might want to stay informed if you are interested in:

• How Ireland is shaping AI policy and governance
• Understanding ethical and safe AI adoption
• Learning about trends and challenges in AI for society and the economy

When?
The Council meets at least three times a year and publishes reports and recommendations, including updates on Ireland’s National AI Strategy.

Read more: Membership of the AI Advisory Council

Organiser: Funded by the European Union

What: A leading international ecosystem of research, training and innovation opportunities aiming to use AI to improve public services.

The aims are to empower public administration to use human-centric AI to transform public service delivery.

Projects include developing evidence-based innovations, policies and policy recommendations to mitigate the negative impacts of Big Data and AI, and increase citizen trust. Outputs include frameworks, AI monitoring and bias mitigation tools and training.

When? AI4Gov hosts events, a Knowledge Hub for shared research and peer learning, and a Master’s Programme on AI in Public Services.

Read more and subscribe: https://ai4gov-project.eu/

Organiser: University of Cambridge

What: Launched in 2024 to support the University in delivering its vision for world-leading AI research, innovative AI education, and collaborations that translate AI research to real-world benefits for business, civil society and policy.

The aims are to:

• Leverage the University’s vibrant interdisciplinary research community alongside partnerships between researchers, practitioners, and affected communities that embed equity and inclusion
• Develop new platforms for innovation and knowledge transfer
• Deliver innovative interdisciplinary teaching and learning for students, researchers, and professionals
• Build strong connections between the University and national AI priorities

When? Monthly events in (and near) Cambridge

Read more and subscribe: ai.cam.ac.uk

Organiser: AI Institute

What: The AI Institute’s mission is to foster the successful adoption of Responsible AI within associations and membership bodies. This Institute exclusively supports executive directors and the senior leadership team. The comprehensive guide includes:

• Key Discussion Questions: Frameworks to help align AI use with your organisation’s cultural values and risk tolerance.
• Ethical and Regulatory Insights: Strategies to ensure compliance with emerging AI regulations and mitigate risks like inherent bias and data breaches.
• Practical Implementation Guidance: Best practices for human oversight, staff training, and integrating AI responsibly across departments.

When? Sign up for all the details

Read more and subscribe: https://www.aiinstitute.cloud/

Organiser: apolitical

What: The apolitical’s AI in government community. Sign up to access to conversations, insights, ideas and resources on the use of AI in government from peers across the global public service. This community is open to all Apolitical members and being part of the group includes the following:

• A community calendar, where you can submit your relevant AI in government events and access other events from community members
• A resource hub, where you can submit relevant AI resources and access resources from other community members
• Training available on AI covering AI basics as well as prompt engineering, procuring AI, AI and climate implications, AI and the future of healthcare and AI in leadership.
• Upon joining, members will receive regular AI Community Digest emails

apolitical also has a host of other relevant communities you can join including a local government, digital transformation in government, procurement innovation and many more

When? Sign up for all the details

Read more and subscribe: https://apolitical.co/communities/ai-in-government

Organiser: UK Government

What:

The AI community is open to anyone who works in the public sector.

The community exists to:

• share information about what other departments are doing in the field of AI
• enable people using AI tools in the workplace to share their experiences and best practices
• host talks on topics including AI ethics, security and emerging uses of AI technology, from speakers both inside and outside government

You don’t have to be in an AI role to join, but you might want to join this community if you are interested in:

• how the AI field is developing learning about existing and emerging AI tools understanding how to use AI ethically and safely

When? Monthly online workshops to share best practice and learn more about artificial intelligence use in government and regular email bulletins

Read more and subscribe: Central Digital and Data Office

Organiser: CeADAR – Ireland’s Centre for AI

What:
CeADAR is Ireland’s national centre for applied AI, machine learning, and data analytics. It is a not-for-profit technology centre funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA, based at University College Dublin. The centre acts as a bridge between research and commercial deployment, helping organisations of all sizes adopt and leverage AI technologies.

The community exists to:

• Support businesses and public sector organisations in understanding and using AI
• Provide independent advice, technical expertise, and prototype development
• Offer fully discounted services through its European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) programme
• Build partnerships and networks across Ireland and Europe

You don’t have to be an AI expert to engage, but you might want to join if you are interested in:

• Learning how AI and machine learning can transform your organisation
• Exploring ethical and sustainable AI practices
• Accessing training, funding guidance, and hands-on support for AI adoption

When?
CeADAR runs regular events, workshops, and training programmes, including digital maturity assessments and “Test Before Invest” services. They also host networking opportunities and publishes AI news updates.

Read more and subscribe: CeADAR.ie

Organiser: Coram

What: The Coram Innovation Incubator (CII) is a space and vehicle for generating, testing and scaling (i.e. incubating) new approaches such as AI, to the most important and intractable challenges in children’s services as defined by the providers of those services.

The CII benefits from the expertise, capacity and know-how of our external partners, Ernst & Young and Microsoft, as well as its members (City, University of London, Hertfordshire County Council, Grosvenor Hart Homes, London Borough of Bromley, London of Havering, North Yorkshire County Council, London Borough of Redbridge and Sentinel.)

Bringing together groups of local authorities and public bodies that share a common challenge, leveraging private sector partners and combining the collective wisdom and ideas to create and test ground-breaking innovations will lead to a stepped change in the way services operate and more importantly, improve outcomes for children.

When? Sign up for all the details

Read more and subscribe: To find out more about becoming a CII partner or member, get in touch by emailing innovation@coram.org.uk or visit https://www.coram.org.uk/coram-innovation-incubator/

Organiser: UK Government

What: The data and artificial intelligence ethics community is for people working in the public sector who are interested in discussing and exploring ethics in data and technology.

The community exists to:

• provide a forum and safe space for people across the public sector
• explore and discuss data ethics topics and issues
• raise awareness and encourage people to consider how data ethics relate to their work
• share real-world case studies, learnings and best practices
• convene existing expertise and grow the community across the public sector
• facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange
• help to embed data ethics across public sector operations and practices

Meeting topics include:

• the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS)
• data ethics guidance for local authorities
• the ethics of using AI to analyse user research

When? Monthly online workshops to share best practice and learn more about artificial intelligence use in government and regular email bulletins

Read more and subscribe: Data and artificial intelligence ethics community – Service Manual – GOV.UK

Organiser: Tameside Council

What: iNetwork is a membership organisation based in Greater Manchester and proudly hosted by Tameside Council. With over 120 members across the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside we have a strong collective voice empowered to confront the most pressing challenges in the local public sector.

When? Come to an event to experience the usefulness of iNetwork or contact one of the team directly. This is a public sector partnership that is looking to help and enable the public sector. Membership is available to any local public service organisation in the UK and it gives access to a range of benefits including service redesign training, expert intelligence and advice, network and peer support, sector-led workshops and briefings on key policies.

Read more and subscribe: https://i-network.org.uk/

Organiser: Outcomes Matter Consulting

What: An online community of practice driving impactful change in UK local government through emerging technologies. The network offers consultancy services, transformation programme support and targeted solutions.

When? Monthly on Thursday mornings mostly 10:00 to 11:30

Read more and register: lgai.circle.so/feed

Organiser: London Office of Technology

What: A programme to help London boroughs be more ambitious users of AI. It responds to the needs identified by its members, in particular around bringing together and sharing ideas and case studies, developing skills, as well as developing common approaches and understandings to using AI better.

When? If you work for a LOTI London borough register for all the details

Read more and join: loti.london/projects/responsible-ai

Organsiser: Major Cities of Europe

What: Socitm is a member of and delivers similar services to MCE, who are a European independent organisation of local government CIOs, heads of departments and policy makers. They co-operate with academia, public and private organisations focused in that domain.

MCE promote the development of new services for citizens and local businesses. They facilitate exchanges of strategies, experiences, ideas and solutions for the use of information and communication technology including AI.

Their mission is to support local governments in sharing experiences, solutions and strategies in the use of information and communication technologies and leading edge innovation in the administration of local governments and in the development of new services for the well-being and the wealth of their constituents and for the local economy.

When: There is an annual conference supplemented by regular workshops and webinars.

Read more and join: https://majorcities.eu/members/

Organiser: Microsoft. Chaired by Kieran Johnston

What: The Innovation and Collaboration Forum meetings are designed for UK Local Government but open to anyone in Local Government worldwide.

The forums are focused on helping everyone in Local Government learn from each other – sharing best practice and drafting strategies to help cut through some of the duplication of work across the country. It is also a space to hear from experts and partners, and enabling everyone to get the most out of the Microsoft Platform and Services.

When: Usually the first Wednesday of every month between 10:00 and 12:00

Read more and join: Innovation Forum | Microsoft Public Sector Center of Expertise

Organiser: Microsoft. Chaired by Andy Kennell (Somerset Council) and formerly, Tony Ellis (Buckinghamshire Council)

What: The group (with over 854 members and rapidly growing) meets to talk through a core agenda of ROI, where to start your Copilot journey, social care, integration to back-office systems and governance.

When? Monthly 2-hour meetings. Join for all the details

Read more and join: Local Government Collaboration and Innovation Copilot Sub Group 

Organiser: NEICT is a strategic partnership of the IT and Digital departments of nine of North East of England’s local government IT departments working together to address emerging policy, technology, market and resource challenges.

What: NEICT provides a safe environment for:

• sharing and developing expertise, best practice, learning, skills and experience
• developing new and exploiting existing IT infrastructure, applications and developments
• working together to support efficiency and transformation
• maximising opportunities for jointly procuring IT goods and services
• working with other organisations to ensure a co-ordinated approach to regional IT developments and;
• to help shape the use of ICT in the North East for the benefit of the residents, people who work here and those who visit the region

When? If you’re in the North East of England, register for all the details

Read more and join: neict.org

Organiser: Scottish AI Alliance, The Data Lab and the Scottish Government.

What: Focused on ensuring joined up and efficient AI and Data discussions across Scotland, the AI Task Force brings together representatives from all parts of the public sector in a spirit of open collaboration.

Attendees share insights, technical knowledge and discuss industry trends, offering a safe and collaborative space to discuss this fast-changing landscape and to learn from others experience.

Also visit the Data Lab Community, which is a digital community created to enable data and AI professionals, academics, students and other enthusiasts to connect, collaborate, develop and learn.

When: Usually the third Tuesday of every month.

If you’re in Scotland read more and subscribe: www.scottishai.com/task-force

Organiser: Socitm

What: Formerly known as the LCIOC, the SNRF is an autonomous group that acts in a policy advisory capacity to the Socitm Board.

Representatives on the Council cover all geographic areas of the country, along with differing sizes of Local Authority, and other public and third sector bodies such as Education, Police, Health, etc.

Membership is typically reserved for senior members of staff, and the purpose of the group is to discuss local public services digital delivery and reform.

When? Every 3 months, 15:00 to 17:00

Read more and register: https://socitm.net/about/nations-regions-forum

Organiser: TechUK

What: The AI Adoption Working Group convenes regularly as a forum to discuss the barriers to adoption, potential solutions and how businesses can best maximise the opportunities from the use and deployment of AI.

It provides members with the opportunity to discuss the barriers to AI adoption and how best to overcome these challenges, as well as to discuss AI adoption opportunities and areas for cross-industry collaboration and engagement with government.

techUK and its members are committed to working with the Government to turn the AI Opportunities Action Plan into reality. They run a full calendar of activities including events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant AI opportunities for the UK. Their AI Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activity including monthly AI newsletter.

The group is open to TechUK members only.

When? Join for all the details

Read more and register: https://www.techuk.org/group/ai-adoption-working-group.html

Organiser: The Nuffield Institute

What: an independent research institute with a mission to ensure data and AI work for people and society.

AI cuts across all of their research domains. They produce useful reports and guidance on AI including:

• Buying AI
• Redesigning the landscape for the procurement of AI in local government

Read more and subscribe: nuffieldfoundation.tfaforms.net/149

Organiser: The Local Government Association

What: A peer network convening officers from across the sector to discuss AI risks, rewards and readiness.

Whether you’re a seasoned expert spearheading ambitious projects or just starting your AI journey, the network offers a supportive, informative environment to connect, collaborate, and learn.

When do they meet? Mostly monthly. Join for all the details

Read more and join: www.local.gov.uk/our-support/cyber-digital-and-technology/cyber-digital-and-technology-network-groups/ai-network

Organiser: LocalGov Digital in partnership with the Local Government Association

What: This group focuses on practical AI experimentation and application in local government.

Whether you’re curious about AI usage in other councils or have already started your journey, this group is the place to learn and share.

Meetings feature show and tells, discussions, and practical workshops, including LocalGovCamp

When do they meet? Join for all the details.

Read more and get involved: localgov.digital/2024/06/12/artificial-intelligence-practitioners-group

Organiser: The Alan Turing Institute

What:

The forum aims to:

• Promote dialogue about trustworthy AI at the interface between research, the private sector and the third sector
• Bring cutting edge research in trustworthy AI, and related topics, in an accessible way, to the attention of executives whose job it is to deliver digital transformation within their organisations
• Provide these organisations with a safe space to share their use cases, best practice and challenges

When? Sign up for all the details

Read more and join: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=p_SVQ1XklU-Knx-672OE-fR6PcyyBV1JuragBENwKPJUQk5OQkY0VzY0WVNYMVNSVDk4TEc2VDJGWCQlQCN0PWcu

Organiser: Welsh Government’s Centre for Digital Public Service

What: Anyone who is responsible for the implementation of automation and AI in their organisation can join this community to explore how to implement automation and artificial intelligence in a responsible, ethical and safe way.

Meetings feature sharing of challenges and opportunities, how organisations are using automation and AI, relevant standards and guidance linked with automation and AI adoption and invite guest speakers to talk about a topic, project or problem.

When? Monthly on Microsoft Teams

Read more and join: https://digitalpublicservices.gov.wales/courses-and-events/communities-practice/automation-and-ai