UK Appoints Kanishka Narayan as First Cabinet AI Minister

The United Kingdom has appointed Kanishka Narayan as its first Cabinet-level Minister for Artificial Intelligence. A Member of Parliament for Vale of Glamorgan, Narayan previously served as a junior minister in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He now holds a joint appointment in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Narayan's elevation follows a government reshuffle and the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer on July 21, 2026. He was retained in the new cabinet formed under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. In this role, Narayan is tasked with overseeing national AI policy, supporting semiconductor ambitions, managing the AI Security Institute, and driving investment in the technology sector.

Immediately upon taking office, Narayan contacted Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. Their discussion centered on translating Britain's AI leadership into economic growth and employment. Hassabis publicly congratulated Narayan, describing the appointment as great news for the UK AI ecosystem.