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FCA approach to AI: no new AI-specific rules and AI Live Testing (Published 2026-06-08): FCA position that it will not introduce new regulations for AI and will rely on existing frameworks such as the Consumer Duty and SM&CR, supported by an AI Live Testing programme whose second cohort was announced on 21 April 2026.
3 instruments (3 current) · 0 obligations · 9 claims · 0 milestones
Instruments
- FCA approach to AI: no new AI-specific rules and AI Live Testing Published 2026-06-08
FCA position that it will not introduce new regulations for AI and will rely on existing frameworks such as the Consumer Duty and SM&CR, supported by an AI Live Testing programme whose second cohort was announced on 21 April 2026.
- Legal services advisory AI Growth Lab (DSIT) Date not recorded
DSIT advisory programme giving AI innovators and adopters in legal services coordinated access to regulators; applications opened August 2026 and closed 27 September 2026; advisory only, disapplies no law.
- Regulating for Growth Bill (announced; regulatory sandbox powers) Draft, no legal force
Announced Government bill (King's Speech, 13 May 2026) that would give the Government cross-sector sandbox powers to temporarily modify or disapply legislation blocking innovation, including through the AI Growth Lab. No introduction to Parliament confirmed as at 8 July 2026.
Claims and evidence (9)
On 21 April 2026 the FCA announced the second cohort of firms admitted to its AI Live Testing sandbox programme.
Evidence and sources
- FCA announces second cohort for AI Live Testing
Speaking at UK FinTech Week, Jessica Rusu, chief data, information and intelligence officer at the FCA, has confirmed the second group of firms selected to join AI Live Testing.
- FCA announces second cohort for AI Live Testing
The government announced on 8 July 2026 that it will seek cross-sector sandbox powers in a Regulating for Growth Bill to allow temporary modification or disapplication of legislation blocking innovation, including for AI.
Evidence and sources
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
The government will seek transformational new cross-sector powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill to support businesses willing to innovate and test new ideas. These sandbox powers would allow government to temporarily modify or disapply legislation that is acting as a blocker to innovation and growth.
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
DSIT launched the AI Growth Lab call for evidence on 21 October 2025, seeking views on a cross-economy sandbox to oversee deployment of AI-enabled products and services that current regulation hinders.
Evidence and sources
- AI Growth Lab: call for evidence
We are seeking evidence on a pioneering cross-economy sandbox, that would oversee the deployment of AI-enabled products and services that current regulation hinders.
- AI Growth Lab: call for evidence
Derived: Probable The Regulating for Growth Bill, creating cross-sector regulatory sandbox powers, was announced with the 2026 King's Speech on 13 May 2026.
Evidence and sources
- King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes (landing page)
Read the briefing notes on the announcements made in the 2026 King's Speech.
- AI in the King's Speech 2026: Regulating for Growth Bill announced
This refers to the government's plans to introduce a new "Regulating for Growth Bill" which will create sandbox powers and reinforce the focus of regulators towards growth. More details on this in section 3 below.
- Regulating for Growth Bill: Regulatory Sandboxes - What Businesses Can Expect
The Government will seek transformational new cross-sector powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill to
- King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes (landing page)
Derived: Probable The Government says it will seek sandbox powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill that would let it temporarily modify or disapply legislation that blocks innovation.
Evidence and sources
- Regulating for Growth Bill: Regulatory Sandboxes - What Businesses Can Expect
The Government will seek transformational new cross-sector powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill to
- Regulating for Growth Bill: Regulatory Sandboxes - What Businesses Can Expect
temporarily modify or disapply legislation that is acting as a blocker to innovation and growth.
- UK to become world's fastest market to commercialise innovation with regulatory shake-up
The Regulating for Growth Bill changes that, giving businesses a faster route from idea to market and ensuring every part of government — from investment and procurement to skills, infrastructure and regulation — is aligned to create the conditions
- Regulating for Growth Bill: Regulatory Sandboxes - What Businesses Can Expect
Derived: Probable On 8 July 2026 the Government said it will seek transformational cross-sector sandbox powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill, allowing it to temporarily modify or disapply legislation blocking innovation.
Evidence and sources
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
The government will seek transformational new cross-sector powers in the Regulating for Growth Bill to support businesses willing to innovate and test new ideas. These sandbox powers would allow government to temporarily modify or disapply legislation that is acting as a blocker to innovation and growth.
- UK to become world's fastest market to commercialise innovation with regulatory shake-up
The Regulating for Growth Bill changes that, giving businesses a faster route from idea to market and ensuring every part of government — from investment and procurement to skills, infrastructure and
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect Published 8 July 2026 ## Contents 1. What is a 'r
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
GOV.UK lists the AI Growth Lab, bringing multiple regulators together to test cross-cutting AI-enabled products and services, among the sectors in which the Regulating for Growth Bill sandbox powers could be used.
Evidence and sources
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
cross-economy AI: the AI Growth Lab will bring multiple regulators together to test cross-cutting AI-enabled products and services to support safe AI adoption and innovation
- Regulatory sandboxes: what businesses can expect
The FCA stated on 8 June 2026 that it will not introduce new AI-specific regulation and will rely on existing frameworks including the Consumer Duty and SM&CR, and on 21 April 2026 announced a second AI Live Testing cohort.
Evidence and sources
- AI in financial services: shaping our approach through industry engagement
We have been clear that we are not going to introduce new regulations for AI. Instead, we'll rely on existing frameworks, including the Consumer Duty,
- AI in financial services: shaping our approach through industry engagement
Instead, we’ll rely on existing frameworks, including the Consumer Duty, the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), and our expectations on governance and controls.
- FCA announces second cohort for AI Live Testing
Speaking at UK FinTech Week, Jessica Rusu, chief data, information and intelligence officer at the FCA, has confirmed the second group of firms selected to join AI Live Testing.
- AI in financial services: shaping our approach through industry engagement
The legal services advisory AI Growth Lab gives innovators and adopters coordinated access to regulators; its applications window closed at 11:59pm on 27 September 2026.
Evidence and sources
- Legal services advisory AI Growth Lab: overview (DSIT)
The legal services advisory AI Growth Lab provides innovators and adopters with coordinated access to regulators, helping them to understand how current regulation applies to cutting-edge technology so they can bring products to market faster.
- Legal services advisory AI Growth Lab: overview (DSIT)
Applications are now open and will close at 11:59pm on 27 September 2026.
- Legal services advisory AI Growth Lab: overview (DSIT)