UK Appoints Kanishka Narayan as First AI Minister

The United Kingdom appointed Kanishka Narayan as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade on 20 July 2026, marking the first time an AI-focused role has held a seat in the Prime Minister's Cabinet. Narayan is a Labour politician who has represented the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in the House of Commons since 2024. The appointment came as part of a wider Cabinet reshuffle in London, the seat of the UK government.

Who Is Kanishka Narayan, the UK's First AI Minister?

Narayan was born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India, and moved to Cardiff, Wales, at age 12. Of Indian origin, he has served as MP for the Vale of Glamorgan since 2024 and held the post of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from 7 September 2025 to 20 July 2026. He was elected as the MP for Vale of Glamorgan in July 2024.

Why Is the AI Minister Post Significant for the UK Government?

The AI minister post was newly created within the UK's ministerial structure in 2026, covering artificial intelligence policy, online safety, and digital regulation. By bringing this role into Cabinet, the UK has, for the first time, given AI policy a direct seat at its highest decision-making table.

What Changes Has the UK Made to Its AI and Tech Departments?

Alongside this appointment, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) was dissolved. Its responsibilities over artificial intelligence and online harms have now been split between an expanded Department for Business and Trade and the Culture Department. Whitehall, London's administrative hub for the UK government, saw this restructuring as part of the same reshuffle that created the AI minister's post.