On January 16, 2026, the UK government expanded the Regulatory Innovation Office's (RIO) remit to prioritize robotics and defence technologies. The announcement includes a new "Front Door" pilot designed to identify and reduce cross-regulator barriers that delay the deployment of autonomous systems, such as inspection drones. This initiative seeks to coordinate approvals across aviation, data protection, and sector-specific safety authorities to streamline the path to market for AI-enabled technologies.