Conference Programme 2026

The NFCC released its Ethical Guide to AI in August 2024, setting out high-level principles for responsible AI use in UK Fire and Rescue. Since then, monthly themed working groups on ethics and digital inclusion, cyber security, HR, M365 and learning and development have identified the technical, organisational and human requirements needed for successful AI deployment. This has included improving digital literacy, strengthening cyber readiness, creating learning materials, and enhancing data quality to support emerging use cases.

Work is now underway with technology partners to develop centrally hosted AI tools that services can adopt at scale. This presentation will showcase some of these tools and share the sector’s key lessons - from early successes to common pitfalls.

The groundwork is widely applicable beyond fire and rescue: challenges around security, ethics, digital skills and resourcing are universal. For the critical communications industry, these insights highlight the evolving skills, roles and investment needed over the next decade to adopt AI safely and effectively, while avoiding missed opportunities and vulnerabilities to emerging threats.