Bihar born Kanishka Narayan becomes UK AI minister: Who is he and what are his achievements
Bihar-born Kanishka Narayan has reached one of the most influential positions in the UK government, becoming Britain's new Minister for Artificial Intelligence. Just two years
Bihar-born Kanishka Narayan has reached one of the most influential positions in the UK government, becoming Britain's new Minister for Artificial Intelligence. Just two years after entering Parliament, Narayan has been given a seat at the Cabinet table, showing how important AI has become as countries compete to lead the next wave of technological innovation. Announcing his appointment, Narayan showcased the importance of the moment. Read Full Story "Nations have a narrow window to decide whether they shape AI or get shaped by it. Britain is in that window right now," he wrote on X. "While that window is still open...I will focus relentlessly on securing British influence in shaping AI." His promotion comes after newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham carried out a major Cabinet reshuffle. As part of the changes, the standalone Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), created in 2023, was dissolved. Narayan's new role spans both the Cabinet Office and the expanded Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, putting him at the centre of Britain's AI strategy.
Who is Kanishka Narayan? Kanishka Narayan was born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, in November 1989. His family later moved to Delhi before relocating to Cardiff in Wales when he was 12 years old. He has often spoken about the struggles his parents faced after moving to the UK, including working minimum-wage and night-shift jobs. According to him, those experiences changed his belief in social mobility and equal opportunities. Narayan first attended a state-funded 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, before completing an MBA from Stanford University in the US. What did he do before entering politics? Before joining politics, Narayan built a career in finance, venture capital and public policy. He worked at investment bank Lazard, advising company boards, government finance ministries and technology entrepreneurs across Europe and the US, with a focus on AI, fintech and climate initiatives. He later joined venture capital firms Atomico and Clocktower Ventures, where he worked with technology startups and investment teams across Europe.
Narayan also served as an economist and senior adviser in the UK government, working with Cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister's office. During this period, he also helped draft the UK's 25-year environment plan. What are his 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 political career moved quickly. In September 2025, he became 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. These included a £400 million commitment to purchase AI chips from British firms and another £250 million to expand the country's cloud computing capacity. He also oversees the UK's AI Security Institute, which evaluates advanced AI models and their safety measures. Speaking about AI, Narayan has called it one of the most transformative technologies of our time. "AI is likely the most significant technology in human history.
The BriefWire