IN-CONFIDENCE
Memo: Progress on DPMC’s AI Adoption
To: Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister
Date:
6/05/2026
Priority level:
Routine
Background
1982
This memo provides an update on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s (DPMC) progress in
adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
Act
DPMC is committed to being a system leader in AI adoption across the New Zealand government. Ben King
has directed the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to pursue the “muscular adoption” of AI in our work
programmes, which has enabled us to pursue an aggressive timeline to ensure rapid adoption and to
realise maximum benefit from this technology.
s9(2)(g)(i)
. We view AI adoption as a transformative opportunity to enhance
Information
public sector productivity, improve decision-making, and deliver better services to New Zealanders, more
efficiently.
Key Updates
Official
Microsoft CoPilot Rollout
Microsoft CoPilot Basic has been rolled out across all DPMC desktops. A pilot programme for the licensed
the
version of Microsoft CoPilot is set to commence shortly, involving 20 users to test its extended
functionalities.
s9(2)(b)(ii), s9(2)(f)(iv)
under
We wil keep you informed as we meet Ben’s chal enge of “muscular
adoption” of this exciting new technology over the coming months.
Released
Alan Cassidy
DCE Corporate and Chief People Officer
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IN-CONFIDENCE