AI in the Public Sector is a practitioner-friendly resource for leaders who need to move beyond AI hype and actually make it work in real organisations. It offers a clear maturity framework, practical self-assessment tools and realistic progression pathways that help you answer, “Where are we now, what should we do next, and how fast can we safely move?” Drawing on real-world experience with parliaments, local authorities, regulators and agencies, it focuses on proportionate governance, manageable pilots, and building skills and culture alongside technology. Each section can be dipped into as needed, with concrete guidance on governance, risk, security, people, lifecycle, procurement and transparency, plus templates you can adapt straight away. Whether you are a chief executive, digital leader, policy or service manager, or a consultant advising public bodies, this handbook gives you enough structure to act – and enough nuance to avoid both AI paralysis and reckless experimentation.