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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Kanishka Narayan as the UK’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence, creating a dedicated ministerial role for AI at the centre of government.
Narayan was appointed on 20 July as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence), serving jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. He will also attend Cabinet, reflecting the government’s intention to give AI a central role in policymaking.
The appointment has been followed by the launch of the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce, chaired by Lord Vallance. According to the Cabinet Office, the taskforce will drive the government’s overall AI strategy and focus on economic growth, public sector transformation and the wider adoption of artificial intelligence across government.
Announcing the taskforce, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government was putting AI “at the very centre of government” as part of its wider programme of national renewal and economic transformation.
Narayan said the government would pursue AI “with urgency, ambition, and with British values at heart”, describing the technology as an opportunity to improve public services, strengthen economic growth and support Britain’s industrial future. He will lead the new AI Taskforce while attending Cabinet.
The Cabinet Office said the new arrangements are intended to ensure AI is embedded across government rather than being treated as a standalone policy area, with the taskforce bringing together scientific, technical and ministerial leadership to coordinate implementation across departments.
