Publisher: UK Cabinet Office
Released: 19 June 2026
The policy note directs central government organisations to consider national-security interests when procuring goods and services in four critical sectors: artificial intelligence, shipbuilding, steel and energy infrastructure.
For AI procurement, it focuses on:
- Security and continuity of access to critical computing infrastructure
- Hardware, software and network dependencies
- Supply-chain resilience and strategic dependency
- Early engagement with government AI sector leads
- National-security risk assessments
- Appropriate use of procurement exemptions
The document formally treats AI as a dual-use technology and a critical national-security capability. It is primarily a procurement and supply-chain policy rather than a general AI governance framework.