London: Indian-origin Labour MP Kanishka Narayan has been appointed as the UK's first AI minister, marking the first time the artificial intelligence portfolio has been elevated to a Cabinet-level position in the country.

Narayan represents the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales and has been a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons since July 2024. His appointment has drawn attention in both the UK and India, adding to his growing profile in British politics and technology policy.

Born in Bihar, Narayan moved to Cardiff as a child. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before earning an MBA from Stanford University in the United States.

Before entering government, Narayan built a career spanning public policy, economic reform and social mobility. He co-founded Attain Wales, a programme focused on improving educational opportunities and social mobility for young people in South Wales.

He later served as a trustee of a Citizens Advice bureau and was associated with the advisory panel of Chatham House, a leading UK foreign policy think tank. He also worked as a visiting associate at the Centre for Cities, which focuses on urban policy and economics.

Narayan entered Parliament in 2024 and initially served as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He was later appointed Minister for AI and Online Safety, taking on responsibility for issues at the intersection of emerging technology, online regulation and digital policy.

His latest elevation comes at a time when artificial intelligence has become a major policy priority for governments around the world. The UK has sought to position itself as a leading AI hub, supported by companies such as Google DeepMind and fast-growing startups including ElevenLabs and Wayve, as well as a strong pool of researchers and engineers.

However, the country's AI ambitions have also faced challenges, including concerns over computing capacity, energy costs and delays to major technology infrastructure projects. The government is under pressure to create the conditions needed for investment while ensuring that AI development is accompanied by effective regulation and online safety measures.

Narayan's new role is therefore expected to involve balancing the UK's ambition to remain competitive in the global AI race with questions surrounding regulation, digital infrastructure and technological sovereignty.

His promotion also comes amid a wider debate in Europe over dependence on US-based technology companies and AI systems. As countries including France and Germany push for greater technological independence, the UK's approach to AI could have wider implications for its role in Europe's rapidly evolving technology landscape.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)