Who is Kanishka Narayan? Indian-origin politician becomes 1st AI minister to attend UK Cabinet

In a significant first, the United Kingdom has elevated its Minister for Artificial Intelligence to a full cabinet-level position. Kanishka Narayan, an Indian-origin Labour politician from Wales, has been promoted to the role amid the global AI boom.

Narayan, initially appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Online Safety) in September 2025 under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will retain his position and gain cabinet status under the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The move comes after Starmer’s resignation in June, which led to a cabinet reshuffle in which several senior ministers lost their positions.