The AI in Government Suitability Canvas helps public sector teams determine whether AI is an appropriate and optimal response to a clearly defined problem. It supports teams to take a solution-agnostic, problem-based approach before committing to an AI solution, by prompting them to compare credible non-AI alternative solutions, clarify the additional value AI could provide, assess whether the necessary data are available and reliable, and consider whether the proposed approach is feasible in practice.

The canvas is intended for use after initial problem definition, either individually or in a facilitated group setting. It helps policy, service, digital, data and delivery stakeholders build a shared understanding of the problem, the intended future state, and the operational, legal, technical and organisational conditions that would need to be in place for AI to deliver public value. The canvas enables teams to also determine whether AI is likely to add enough value, compared with simpler alternatives, to justify its costs, risks and implementation demands.

The tool can be used early in discovery, business case development or project review to avoid premature technology choices and to identify when an AI idea should be refined, deferred or replaced by a simpler intervention.