Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has named Kanishka Narayan as his AI minister and promoted the role to cabinet level for the first time.
Narayan, a venture capitalist turned MP from Wales, was appointed as a junior minister to cover AI and online safety in September last year.
There had been criticism from some that Narayan’s previous remit was too wide. His new role hones in on the AI side of his work and will sit within cabinet – a group of high level ministers that act as the government’s primary decision making body.
Narayan’s new role will sit across the newly created department for business, innovation, science and trade, and the cabinet office.
The UK follows other countries in creating a high-level AI minister role. France and Canada have both created similar positions over the last few years.
Narayan is popular among much of the tech world.
“Fantastic to have Kanishka attending Cabinet as AI minister,” Matt Clifford, a former AI advisor to the government, wrote on X. “He understands the scale and opportunity and has brought great energy and clarity to the role over the last year.”
Narayan’s former boss Liz Kendall — who served as technology secretary — was sacked.
Want to know more about the UK’s AI minister? Listen to our podcast with Kanishka Narayan here
