Insights from the Ministry of Defence’s ‘Do different, do better: AI in action’ webinar, supported by NashTech
This November, 135 colleagues from across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) joined the second session in the Do different, do better: AI in action series. Hosted by the MOD and supported by NashTech, the webinar focused on one of the most pressing questions in modern Defence: how do we empower people with the skills, confidence and mindset to make the most of AI?
What followed was a practical conversation about opportunity, use cases and the cultural shift unfolding across Defence.
From AI as a concept to AI in your pocket
Major General Phil Prosser, Director of Joint Support, opened the session by highlighting a reality that many of us now experience daily: “AI is no longer just for the big tech companies. It is in our browsers, on our phones and increasingly built into our workplace tools”.
From ChatGPT and Gemini to Copilot embedded across productivity suites, the technology has rapidly moved from theory to tap-to-use. For Defence, the shift is important because AI directly supports the MOD’s three core operational planning principles:
- Analyse – AI accelerates the speed and depth at which teams can examine information, documents and intelligence.
- Choose – It helps guide better decision-making by surfacing options, patterns and risks faster.
- Execute – It strengthens risk management and performance management by ensuring teams have relevant information at their fingertips.
For operational commanders on the battlefield, time and choice are often the scarcest resources. Used responsibly, AI can create more of both, ultimately helping keep the country safe.
The Major General challenged attendees to think boldly: “AI adoption has moved more in the last six months than in the previous several years. The real task now is integrating it across end-to-end workflows”.
And at the heart of the shift are people. Professional excellence, added value and enjoyment—through improved work-life balance and reduced cognitive load sit firmly at the core of AI-enabled Defence support.
Getting started: AI tools available to everyone in the MOD
David Williams from Defence Support guided attendees through the practicalities of using the building blocks and tools that allow MOD staff to start using AI today.
The MOD has made AI tools readily available to all staff, streamlining daily tasks and enhancing efficiency. These solutions are designed to support MOD personnel in working smarter, with built-in safeguards to ensure responsible and accountable use. By adopting these technologies, the MOD is empowering staff to benefit from improved productivity and reduced administrative burden.
Embedding AI thinking: making experimentation the norm
Chris Weston, Senior Technology Consultant at NashTech, provided a view of how the private sector is adopting AI, and what the MOD and public sector organisations can learn from it.
Generative AI has accelerated adoption everywhere, with 88 per cent of organisations reporting use of AI in at least one business function in 2025. Yet most remain early in their journey:
- 32% experimenting
- 30% piloting
- 31% scaling
- 7% fully scaled
In other words, around 60 per cent are still at the start line.
Where AI is having the biggest impact
Chris highlighted that in the private sector, areas with lower risk and strong oversight, like marketing and product development, are leading the way in embracing generative AI. These teams are open to trying new things and are already seeing tangible benefits from their willingness to experiment.
Public sector teams have every opportunity to enjoy similar advantages, including quicker turnaround times, increased accuracy, and enhanced service delivery. However, it’s not just about having the right technology; building a culture that encourages innovation, ensuring high-quality data, and establishing solid governance are all key to exploring more of AI’s potential.
The risks: real, manageable and essential to understand
Chris did not shy away from the less glamorous side of AI.
AI can be wrong. It is non-deterministic, meaning the same prompt may not produce the same answer twice. It also raises security, privacy and explainability challenges.
Across organisations surveyed:
- 23% reported issues with inaccurate responses
- 16% experienced cybersecurity concerns
- 12% struggled with explainability
- 11% faced IP infringement issues
Yet 39% reported no negative consequences at all, reinforcing that the right governance makes a difference.
For Defence, the principle is that AI can support decision-making, but people remain accountable.
Transforming processes, not just tweaking them
The conversation closed on a forward-looking note.
Generative AI can:
- Improve existing workflows
- Monitor processes and step in when issues arise
- Or completely transform how work gets done
The organisations seeing real returns are choosing high-value use cases and redesigning workflows around them. And the more teams share prompts, examples and lessons learned, the faster capability spreads. Some will inevitably become champions of change, helping others along the way.
Key Takeaways from the webinar
- Most organisations are early in their AI journey. That is normal. What matters now is building confidence, not perfection.
- Share prompts, tips and examples. Collaboration speeds up adoption and helps refine best practices.
- Good data and governance are essential. Labelling, security, permissions and clarity all shape outcomes.
- Pick high-value workflows and redesign them. Do not just bolt AI on; embed it where it can deliver real benefit.
- Early movers gain an advantage. Building skills now positions Defence to move quickly as tools evolve.
A skills shift worth embracing
Empowering teams with the skills, tools and confidence to use AI responsibly means more people can focus on higher-value work that they enjoy, make better decisions and ultimately keep the nation safe.
To learn more about how AI can be used in your organisation, visit www.nashtechglobal.com/software-solutions/artificial-intelligence/
