FOI release

[FOI-REQ-003] Freedom of Information Request - Operational AI Software Register and Vendors

Case reference FOI2026/00950

Received 27 August 2026

Published 21 September 2026

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following recorded information regarding Oxford City Council's operational deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems as of August 2026: 1. AI Register / Software Inventory: A copy of the Council's internal register, catalog, or central IT inventory listing operational AI tools, machine learning software, and automated systems currently deployed across council directorates. 2. Software and Vendor Details: For each deployed tool or software platform identified, please provide: a. The name of the software tool/platform and the commercial vendor/supplier. b. The specific council directorate or service area using the software. c. The primary use category (e.g., internal administrative support/generative writing, customer service chatbot, predictive analytics, or automated workflow). 3. Automated Decision-Making: A list of any active operational systems utilized by the Council for automated decision-making or algorithmic profiling within service delivery. If fulfilling the full request would exceed the cost limit, please prioritize items 1 and 2.

Response

For the purposes of this response, the Council has interpreted the terms “AI tools”, “machine learning software”, “automated systems” and “algorithmic profiling” as referring to systems that involve artificial intelligence or machine learning. The Council distinguishes these from conventional software functionality and business-process automation that does not incorporate AI or machine learning.

 

1. AI Register / Software Inventory

The Council does not hold a central register, catalogue or IT inventory listing operational AI tools, machine learning software and automated systems across Council directorates.

 

The Council’s current AI policy permits the use of Microsoft Copilot (standard and Pro) within the organisation.

 

2. Software and Vendor Details

a) Software/platform: Microsoft Copilot (standard and Pro)
Vendor/supplier: Microsoft

b) Directorate/service area: Organisation-wide use. The Council does not hold a central record identifying individual directorates or service areas using Copilot.

c) Primary use: Generative AI assistance, including support for drafting, summarisation, information retrieval and other administrative/productivity activities.

 

The Council does not hold a centralised record providing the requested directorate/service-area breakdown.

 

3. Automated Decision-Making

The Council has identified no AI systems authorised under its current AI policy that are used for automated decision-making or algorithmic profiling in service delivery.

 

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI productivity tool and is not authorised by the Council’s AI policy to make decisions on behalf of the Council in relation to the delivery of services to individuals.

 

Accordingly, the Council holds no information falling within the scope of this question in relation to AI systems.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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