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Published : 21 Jul 2026, 02:33 PM
Indian-origin Labour MP Kanishka Narayan has been appointed the UK's first minister dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), with the role elevated to attend the prime minister's cabinet for the first time.
The appointment was announced by newly elected British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle signalling a renewed focus on AI and digital policy, Business Standard reports.
Alongside Narayan's elevation, Burnham handed Jonathan Reynolds the role of Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
The government also merged the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) with the Department for Business and Trade, while broadening the Culture Department's remit to include digital transformation and online safety, Business Standard said, citing Bloomberg.
Narayan had held the post of Minister for AI and Online Safety since September 2025 under former prime minister Keir Starmer, having served as a junior minister in the technology department before his promotion.
He represents the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, sitting in the House of Commons since Jul 2024, according to the report.
Citing his LinkedIn profile, Business Standard said he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before completing an MBA at Stanford University.
Before joining government, Narayan worked as parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between Jul 2024 and September 2025.
He took charge of AI and online safety under the then Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that September.
His career also spans public policy, economic reform and the non-profit sector, the Indian daily noted.
Narayan went on to serve as a trustee of a Citizens Advice bureau between 2021 and 2023, during which he sat on the advisory panel at Chatham House, a leading UK foreign policy think tank.
He was also a visiting associate at the Centre for Cities, an urban policy research organisation, from 2020 to 2022, the report added.
According to Business Standard, Narayan's rise comes as the UK looks to strengthen its standing in artificial intelligence amid growing global competition.
Britain is home to several leading AI companies, including Google DeepMind, along with startups such as ElevenLabs and Wayve, and has built up a strong base of AI researchers and engineers, the report noted.
At the same time, the government's technology strategy has drawn criticism over policy U-turns and delays in major digital infrastructure projects, with some proposed AI investments, including plans for an OpenAI data centre, reportedly stalled due to high energy costs.
