Isle of Man launches National AI Office with GBP £1m

The Isle of Man Government has launched a National AI Office as a central function for coordinating the adoption and use of artificial intelligence across government and the wider economy.

The new National AI Office, known as NAIO, has £1 million of government investment. The office will sit within Digital Isle of Man, an executive agency in the Department for Enterprise that works with technology businesses.

The government said NAIO will act as a single point of national coordination for AI activity across the public sector, industry and the broader economy. It said the office will also take on existing functions and expertise already operating across government.

The creation of the office follows earlier work under the Activate AI programme. The government said that programme provided tools and training for businesses and produced an estimated £2 million in productivity savings during 2025.

Six priorities

The National AI Office has six initial deliverables for its first year. The government said the first is developing a national AI strategy, shaped by input from government, industry and the community.

The second deliverable is a coordinated AI literacy programme. The government said it will cover responsible use of AI, capability building and risk awareness for people and businesses.

The third deliverable is practical AI adoption across the economy. The government said it will focus on business productivity, scaling and competitiveness.

The fourth deliverable is guidance for safe and responsible AI use. The government said it will focus on ethical and secure deployment and public trust.

The fifth deliverable is AI-enabled improvement in public services. The government said it expects faster, simpler and more cost-effective services.

The sixth deliverable is workforce preparation. The government said this will include reskilling opportunities and expanded access to AI training and expertise.

Government approach

The Isle of Man is positioning itself as a small jurisdiction that can test approaches to AI adoption under a defined governance model. The government said it sees interest increasing in trustworthy and practical AI.

It also set the office within a wider programme of reforms across the public sector. The government said AI will form part of its approach to improving how services operate.

"The launch of the National AI Office today builds on a period of significant groundwork to agree a clear operating model, purpose and key deliverables, and marks the beginning of the next phase of our journey," said Alfred Cannan, Chief Minister, Isle of Man Government.

"There is no doubt that artificial intelligence is already transforming our economy and society. The National AI Office will enable us to respond to that change in collaboration with industry, recognising that public and private sectors must work in lockstep if we are to realise the full benefits of this rapid technological change," said Cannan.

"That same principle is central to our wider Efficiencies Programmeme. We are serious about reform, and AI must be part of how we deliver faster, simpler and more cost-effective services for our community," said Cannan.

Digital Isle of Man

Digital Isle of Man will lead the new office. The government described the National AI Office as a cross-government initiative that will work closely with industry and the community.

The government said the office will contribute to the development of AI assurance and governance on the Island. It said NAIO will work alongside existing regulators. It said the office will not act as a regulator.

Activate AI formed part of the background for NAIO's creation. The government said the programme has delivered more than 4,100 AI awareness and training sessions and supported 28 pilot projects across key sectors. It said the programme generated more than £1.9 million in productivity gains through trials and proof-of-concept initiatives.

"The National AI Office is not about creating another organisation within government. It is about bringing together existing functions, resources, skills and expertise into a focused operating model that builds on strong foundations already in place," said Tim Johnston, Minister for Enterprise, Isle of Man Government.

"Digital Isle of Man has already delivered free AI training and AI solutions support to thousands of people through its Activate AI programme, and this is a natural next step, taking a more coordinated, strategic approach to harnessing AI for the benefit of our community, our economy and the way government operates," said Johnston.

"Our initial £1 million investment will be focused on delivering the six priority areas over the first 12 months, making best use of the resources, partnerships and capability we already have, while laying the groundwork for long-term impact and productivity gains felt right across the economy," said Johnston.

The government said it expects NAIO to bring forward a national AI strategy for the Isle of Man by the end of 2026, alongside best practice guidance and practical support for businesses and the community.