Apolitical's AI Charter

Apolitical's mission is to make governments smarter, to deliver for people and the planet.

Governments worldwide see AI as having the potential to substantially improve services for citizens and communities. This represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

AI-confident governments use AI effectively, boldly and responsibly. The same conviction shapes how Apolitical uses AI to design and deliver its learning experiences, enabling public servants to deliver greater impact.

The Charter complements and expands upon Apolitical’s AI Principles and Privacy Policy.

Apolitical’s AI Charter can be considered a ‘living’ document and will be reviewed regularly as the technology changes.

Last updated: 28 January 2026.

Apolitical’s AI commitments

1. Public servants first

Technology in service of people and the planet

We use AI to enhance – not replace – the expertise of public servants.
We believe that AI-confident public servants and governments are more effective users, buyers and regulators of technology.
We equip public servants with the knowledge and skills and judgment to use AI critically, responsibly and creatively – and we hold ourselves to the same standard.
Our AI learning experiences are designed to create public value for all citizens and communities, supporting fair and unbiased public service.
Apolitical retains its editorial independence and will not advocate for specific third-party AI providers on the grounds of existing partnerships.

2. Intelligence with integrity

Collaborating to make informed, deliberative choices

We co-design everything – including AI-enabled tools – with public servants. We regularly assess the needs, concerns and attitudes of public servants to ensure we offer real value.
As evidence evolves, so does our approach. We continually adapt our learning based on new evidence, expert insight, feedback and technology.
We present information about AI to support informed, critical judgment by public servants — not to replace professional discretion.
Our understanding of AI – what it is, what it can do, and what it should not do – is independent of public or private sector partnerships.
We care deeply about ensuring that use of AI is fair for all and seek to mitigate bias wherever possible
We ensure our team is appropriately trained to understand, use and develop AI systems responsibly.

3. Trust through transparency

Using AI with care, clarity and accountability

We are transparent about when and how we use AI, the data it draws on and the limits of its use in different contexts. How we use AI is set out in our AI Principles.
Our approach to AI is open to scrutiny. We actively use feedback to improve the design of our tools and operations.
We uphold global privacy standards, including GDPR, apply privacy by design and by default, and minimise the data used in AI systems. Personal data is never shared with partners, and sensitive or personally identifiable information is not processed using AI without clear notice and choice, in line with our Privacy Policy.
We remain fully accountable for any third-party AI systems we use or present on our platform. We rely on third-party providers that meet our standards for quality, safety and compliance.

What training does Apolitical offer to help public servants use AI confidently and responsibly?

Apolitical offers learning designed to help public servants understand, assess and govern AI in the public interest. This includes assessments of individual and workforce capability, foundational learning, applied use cases and guidance on responsible use, risk management and regulation. Public servants can explore Apolitical’s Government AI Campus which is dedicated to enabling responsible and effective use of AI in government.

Which partnerships does Apolitical have with private sector organisations?

Apolitical works with a range of partners to support its mission. All partnerships are signposted wherever they relate to learning experiences.

Are Apolitical AI evangelists?

No. Apolitical is public-servant first, not technology-first.

We use AI when it demonstrably supports the expertise, judgment and effectiveness of public servants and the governments they serve. Our approach is shaped by the needs, concerns and values of public servants – not by technology trends or vendor incentives.

Where governments are exploring how AI might improve outcomes for people and communities, our role is to support informed, responsible and confident decision-making, including when to limit or reject the use of AI.

Do Apolitical’s partnerships influence how Apolitical presents information on AI?

No.

Apolitical’s assessment of AI – what it can do, what it should do, and what it should not do – is independent of public or private-sector partnerships. Partnerships help fund learning, but they do not shape how AI is presented or evaluated by us.

Apolitical does work with leading universities and research institutions, including Oxford, the London School of Economics, Georgetown and Stanford, to develop learning materials and ensure information presented is up to date.

Who controls the data used in Apolitical’s AI tools, and how is privacy protected?

Apolitical retains full control and responsibility for the data used in its AI tools.

We uphold global privacy standards, including GDPR, apply privacy by design and by default and minimise the data used in AI systems. Sensitive or personally identifiable information is not processed using AI without clear notice and choice, in line with Apolitical’s Privacy Policy and data protection legislation. We also do not share personal data collected using AI tools to our partners without clear notification to individuals.

If Apolitical is committed to helping the planet, why does it use AI systems that can have environmental costs?

We recognise that some AI systems have environmental impacts, including significant energy and water consumption. We do not consider these costs lightly.

We use AI proportionately – where it clearly strengthens learning for public servants to support smarter government for people and the planet.

Apolitical offers learning material on the responsible use and governance of AI systems and on the transition to sustainable energy systems. By helping public servants build the capability to use and govern AI responsibly, Apolitical supports decisions that deliver far greater positive impact for climate and sustainability than the footprint of the AI used in our learning experiences.

How does Apolitical prevent bias and ensure AI works fairly for all?

Apolitical actively assesses and mitigates bias across its use of AI.

This includes co-designing tools with public servants from diverse contexts, drawing on expert evidence, evaluating potential disproportionate impacts and adapting tools based on feedback and monitoring.

Does Apolitical ever share personal data with partner companies so they can advocate with governments?

No.

Aggregated and anonymised data may be shared for reporting or impact evaluation, but never in a way that identifies individuals without clear notice and choice. Institutional partners may receive data about their own cohorts only.

Does Apolitical share public servants’ data with AI developers to train models?

No.

Apolitical does not allow public servants’ data to be used to train AI models without clear notice and meaningful choice, consistent with our Privacy Policy.

How can AI be integrated into government work without undermining human characteristics?

Apolitical uses AI to enhance – not replace – the expertise of public servants.

Our approach emphasises human-in-the-loop decision making, clear accountability and the responsible use of AI to free time for work requiring empathy, creativity and professional judgment. We also suggest where AI should not be used, particularly in high-risk, sensitive or discretionary contexts.

Our commitments in action

Our commitments guide our learning for public servants, how we use AI to create learning experiences and our internal operations.

We structure our learning for public servants around three dimensions of capability: understanding AI (what it is, what opportunities and threats it possesses), using AI responsibly (how to evaluate tools, mitigate bias and ensure transparency) and leading with AI (how to integrate within strategy, service design and workforce development).

In our learning experiences, AI helps learners engage with and reflect on content, surfaces relevant knowledge when it’s needed and supports organisations to understand skills and learning pathways. AI also helps us create inclusive learning materials by drafting and editing content, and enabling widespread participation through features such as automated translation. Specific tools, processes and functions which use AI are explored in our AI Principles.

Contact Us

Get in touch if you have any feedback about Apolitical’s AI Charter

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