Bihar-born Kanishka Narayan has been appointed Britain's new Minister for Artificial Intelligence, taking on one of the most influential technology roles in the UK government. Just two years after entering Parliament, Narayan has secured a Cabinet-level position, underlining the growing importance of AI as nations race to shape the future of the technology.
Announcing his appointment on X, Narayan highlighted the significance of the moment.
"Nations have a narrow window to decide whether they shape AI or get shaped by it. Britain is in that window right now. While that window is still open...I will focus relentlessly on securing British influence in shaping AI."
His elevation follows a major Cabinet reshuffle by newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. As part of the restructuring, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), established in 2023, has been dissolved. Narayan's portfolio now spans both the Cabinet Office and the expanded Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, placing him at the heart of the UK's AI agenda.
Who is Kanishka Narayan?
Kanishka Narayan was born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, in November 1989. His family later moved to Delhi before settling in Cardiff, Wales, when he was 12 years old.
He has often spoken about his parents' struggles after moving to the UK, recalling how they worked minimum-wage and night-shift jobs. Those experiences, he says, shaped his belief in social mobility and equal opportunity.
Narayan attended a state school in Cardiff before earning a scholarship to Eton College, one of Britain's most prestigious schools. He later studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and went on to complete an MBA at Stanford University in the United States.
Career before politics
Before entering public life, Narayan built a career spanning finance, venture capital and policymaking. He worked at investment bank Lazard, advising corporate boards, government finance ministries and technology entrepreneurs across Europe and the US, with a focus on AI, fintech and climate-related initiatives.
He later joined venture capital firms Atomico and Clocktower Ventures, where he worked with startups and investment teams across Europe.
Narayan also served as an economist and senior adviser in the UK government, working closely with Cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister's Office. During this period, he contributed to the development of the UK's 25-year environment plan.
Political journey and achievements
Narayan entered Parliament after winning the Vale of Glamorgan seat for the Labour Party in the 2024 UK general election, becoming Wales' first ethnic minority Member of Parliament.
His rise has been rapid. In September 2025, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety. During his tenure, he announced hundreds of millions of pounds in investments for AI and semiconductor companies, including a £400 million commitment to procure AI chips from British firms and another £250 million to expand the country's cloud computing infrastructure.
He also oversees the UK's AI Security Institute, which evaluates advanced AI models and their safety frameworks.
Speaking about artificial intelligence, Narayan has described it as one of the most transformative technologies in history.
"AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. Its impact will dwarf other things," he said, while acknowledging concerns about job displacement and the rapid pace of technological change.
Connection with India
Narayan has also worked to deepen technology ties between the UK and India. Earlier this year, he co-led a UK delegation to the India AI Impact Summit and held discussions with India's Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on collaboration in AI and other emerging technologies.
During the visit, he praised India's innovation ecosystem, describing Bengaluru as the "beating heart of the world's tech ecosystem." He also said the UK and India share common values and ambitions in artificial intelligence and "can achieve a lot more" together.
As Britain's AI Minister with Cabinet access, Narayan is now expected to play a key role in shaping the UK's AI strategy, overseeing areas such as regulation, semiconductor investments, AI infrastructure and the adoption of artificial intelligence across government and industry.
