Liz Kendall, science secretary (Credit score: Alecsandra Dragoi / Division for Science, Innovation and Know-how)
The federal government has introduced a brand new blueprint for AI regulation which may assist minimize NHS ready occasions for sufferers and time calls for on frontline NHS workers.
Liz Kendall, know-how secretary, confirmed the brand new AI Development Lab on 21 October 2025, which can have a look at how firms and innovators can take a look at new AI merchandise in real-world circumstances, with some guidelines and laws quickly relaxed underneath strict supervision.
Often called sandboxes, particular person laws are quickly switched off or tweaked for a restricted interval in protected, managed testing environments. They’d initially be arrange for key sectors of the financial system together with healthcare.
Talking on the Occasions Tech Summit, Kendall mentioned: “To ship nationwide renewal, we have to overhaul the outdated approaches which have stifled enterprise and held again our innovators.
“We wish to take away the unnecessary crimson tape that slows progress so we are able to drive progress and modernise the general public companies individuals depend on on daily basis.
“This isn’t about reducing corners – it’s about fast-tracking accountable improvements that may enhance lives and ship actual advantages.”
The AI Development Lab will pilot accountable AI which may in any other case be held again by regulation and generate real-world proof for the affect that they’ll ship, similar to a testing floor targeted on constructing AI instruments to assist well being employees ship higher affected person care on an accelerated timeline.
The federal government has launched a public name for views on its AI Development Lab proposals, to assist contemplate whether or not the programme must be run in-house by the federal government or overseen by regulators.
Commenting on the plans, Finn Stevenson, chief government at AI-powered physiotherapy agency Flok Well being, mentioned: “The potential for AI to remodel healthcare is enormously thrilling, however good regulation is required to make sure that these novel applied sciences are protected and efficient for sufferers.
“As we’ve proven with our Class IIa medical gadget clearance for AI physiotherapy, it’s completely potential to certify merchandise like this, however many extra improvements may get to market sooner if the foundations have been modernised for a software-driven world.
“Regulators just like the MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] and the notified our bodies that assess AI merchandise on their behalf, at the moment have the unenviable activity of making use of guidelines designed for bodily merchandise to superior software program methods which can be radically completely different than something that existed when the laws have been written.
“In revisiting these laws, the AI Development Lab is a beneficial alternative to make the UK a world vacation spot for healthcare AI.”
Dr Hammad Jeilani, medical director and co-founder, at healthcare logistics agency Apian, mentioned: “Our AI-powered autonomous robots enhance productiveness and minimize prices – dealing with routine logistics so healthcare workers can dedicate extra time to affected person care.
“A cross-economy sandbox will let innovators like Apian safely take a look at and scale these methods, making NHS logistics invisible, resilient and really patient-centred.”
Funding of £1 million is being set aspect to assist the MHRA to pilot AI-assisted instruments and broaden entry to a regulatory testing floor which permits firms to work with regulators to securely take a look at medical units.
