diff --git a/admin/classes/admin/admin_setting_notification.php b/admin/classes/admin/admin_setting_notification.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..de4b21bf8df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/classes/admin/admin_setting_notification.php
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+namespace core_admin\admin;
+
+use admin_setting;
+
+/**
+ * Render a notification as part of other admin settings.
+ *
+ * @package    core_admin
+ * @subpackage admin
+ * @copyright  2025 Matt Porritt <matt.porritt@moodle.com>
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+class admin_setting_notification extends admin_setting {
+    /**
+     * Constructor.
+     *
+     * @param string $name The name of the setting.
+     * @param string $notification The notification to display.
+     * @param string $type The type of notification.
+     * @param bool $cancelable Whether the notification can be canceled.
+     */
+    public function __construct(
+        string $name,
+        /** @var string The notification to display. */
+        protected string $notification,
+        /** @var string The type of notification. */
+        protected string $type = 'info',
+        /** @var bool Whether the notification can be canceled. */
+        protected bool $cancelable = false
+    ) {
+        $this->nosave = true;
+
+        parent::__construct($name, '', '', '');
+    }
+
+    #[\Override]
+    public function get_setting(): bool {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    #[\Override]
+    public function get_defaultsetting(): bool {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    #[\Override]
+    public function write_setting($data): string {
+        // Do not write any setting.
+        return '';
+    }
+
+    #[\Override]
+    public function output_html($data, $query = ''): string {
+        global $OUTPUT;
+
+        return $OUTPUT->notification($this->notification, $this->type, $this->cancelable);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/admin/settings/ai.php b/admin/settings/ai.php
index ecb00c8c093..5a27bab52de 100644
--- a/admin/settings/ai.php
+++ b/admin/settings/ai.php
@@ -32,19 +32,29 @@ if ($hassiteconfig) {
     $providers->add(new admin_setting_heading('availableproviders',
         get_string('availableproviders', 'core_ai'),
         get_string('availableproviders_desc', 'core_ai')));
-    // Add call to action to add a new provider.
-    $providers->add(new \core_admin\admin\admin_setting_template_render(
-        name: 'addnewprovider',
-        templatename: 'core_ai/admin_add_provider',
-        context: ['addnewproviderurl' => new moodle_url('/ai/configure.php')]
-    ));
 
-    $providers->add(new \core_ai\admin\admin_setting_provider_manager(
+    if (!empty(core_plugin_manager::instance()->get_plugins_of_type("aiprovider"))) {
+        // Add call to action to add a new provider.
+        $providers->add(new \core_admin\admin\admin_setting_template_render(
+            name: 'addnewprovider',
+            templatename: 'core_ai/admin_add_provider',
+            context: ['addnewproviderurl' => new moodle_url('/ai/configure.php')]
+        ));
+
+        $providers->add(new \core_ai\admin\admin_setting_provider_manager(
             'aiprovider',
             \core_ai\table\aiprovider_management_table::class,
             'manageaiproviders',
             new lang_string('manageaiproviders', 'core_ai'),
-    ));
+        ));
+    } else {
+        $providers->add(new \core_admin\admin\admin_setting_notification(
+            name:'noproviderplugins',
+            notification: get_string('noproviderplugins', 'core_ai'),
+            type: 'danger'
+        ));
+    }
+
     $ADMIN->add('ai', $providers);
 
     // Add settings page for AI placement settings.
diff --git a/ai/configure.php b/ai/configure.php
index 50b787a6f76..9f9e8141f7e 100644
--- a/ai/configure.php
+++ b/ai/configure.php
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ $PAGE->set_pagelayout('admin');
 $PAGE->set_title($title);
 $PAGE->set_heading($title);
 
+// Explode if there are no provider plugins installed.
+$plugins = core_plugin_manager::instance()->get_plugins_of_type('aiprovider');
+if (empty($plugins)) {
+    throw new moodle_exception('noproviderplugins', 'core_ai');
+}
+
 // Provider instance form processing.
 $mform = new \core_ai\form\ai_provider_form(customdata: $data);
 if ($mform->is_cancelled()) {
diff --git a/lang/en/ai.php b/lang/en/ai.php
index 9e4945af312..fed72f53f4e 100644
--- a/lang/en/ai.php
+++ b/lang/en/ai.php
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ $string['globalratelimit'] = 'Maximum number of site-wide requests';
 $string['globalratelimit_help'] = 'The number of site-wide requests allowed per hour.';
 $string['manageaiplacements'] = 'Manage AI placements';
 $string['manageaiproviders'] = 'Manage AI providers';
+$string['noproviderplugins'] = 'There are no provider plugins installed. Install a provider plugin to enable provider instance creation.';
 $string['noproviders'] = 'This action is unavailable. No <a href="{$a}">AI providers</a> are configured for this action.';
 $string['placement'] = 'Placement';
 $string['placementactionsettings'] = 'Actions';