UK PM Andy Burnham abolishes the Department for Science, Innovation, and Tech and elevates UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, who oversees AISI, to attend cabinet

BBC 2026-07-22 Philippa Wain

Context & Ripple Effects

The move reverses the institutional model set when the UK created a standalone science and technology department to separate tech oversight from DCMS. It simultaneously gives the minister overseeing AISI a seat in cabinet-level discussions.

It follows a broader reorientation of UK AI bodies: AISI was renamed around AI security and the Turing Institute was directed to put national security and defence ahead of its prior responsible-AI emphasis.

First-order effects

The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology loses its standalone status, requiring its responsibilities to be reassigned within government.
Kanishka Narayan gains direct cabinet access while retaining oversight of AISI, raising the institutional weight of AI-security issues in cross-government decisions.

Second-order effects

Departments inheriting the abolished ministry's functions will need to coordinate more closely with Narayan's office on technology policy, while AISI becomes a more central focal point for AI-related advice.
AI researchers and vendors engaging the UK government may face a changed policy interface as technology governance shifts from a dedicated department toward cabinet-linked AI leadership.

Third-order effects

If this structure endures, UK AI policy may become more tightly coupled to security and national-priority decision-making rather than administered chiefly through a broad technology department.
The change reinforces a shift from institution-building around general tech policy toward concentrated executive oversight of strategically framed AI capabilities, though the eventual division of departmental responsibilities remains unclear.

The trend: Governments are increasingly treating AI governance as a cabinet-level security and state-capacity concern, not solely a sectoral technology-policy portfolio.

Discussion

@kanishkanarayan Kanishka Narayan MP on x
The Prime Minister, @andyburnham , today asked me to attend Cabinet as Minister for AI, a sign of his deep commitment to AI's importance. AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. Its impact will dwarf other things. The best case for it is compelling beyon…
@jamestitcomb James Titcomb on x
The argument for abolishing DSIT because AI policy needed to come from somewhere with more clout seems pretty reasonable? The argument against it because people will have to get a new email address didn't.
@alexvoica Alexandru Voica on x
The promotion of @KanishkaNarayan to a cabinet-level AI role is welcome. AI policy cuts across public services, national security, industrial strategy and regulation, so giving the Cabinet Office a central role makes sense. But, as I've told @mhbergen at @technology, the logic [i…
@ed_bithell Ed Bithell on x
Really positive development - @KanishkaNarayan is fantastically capable and credible on AI. Key question is indeed what levers he will have in his new role, as well as whether HMG keep excellent teams in AISI, No 10 etc, well-empowered in the new structure
@sanjushdalmia_ Sanjush Dalmia on x
As much as I would have liked to keep DSIT, the decision to move AI to OPMC (and not DCMS) is great! Demonstrates a clear understanding of the distinctions between how government needs to approach AI policy vs digital policy vs social media policy.
@danny__kruger Danny Kruger on x
Personalities aside, the shape of Burnham's new govt is a mess. His instinct that he needs a strong Office of the Prime Minister is right. But his new model falls well short of what is needed, adds additional dysfunction in places, and sends a confused signal about who's in
@theobertram Theo Bertram on x
This is good. On Friday, the gossip was that the importance of AI was being downgraded under this govt but this suggests quite the opposite.
@shakeelhashim Shakeel on x
One advantage to the reshuffle — Narayan's had online safety stripped from his brief (that's now with DCMS). I've always thought that was an annoying and hyper-political distraction (he had to go on TV to talk about whether we should ban VPNs...). Good that he can just focus on
@shakeelhashim Shakeel on x
AISI moving to Cabinet Office — a potentially positive move
@joebambridge1 Joe Bambridge on x
SCOOP: Burnham to create an AI Taskforce in CO and the PM's office, overseen by Kanishak Narayan. AISI also moving to CO/No. 10. Plenty of outstanding questions, like whether taskforce will have levers over stuff like copyright, SovAI, compute etc https://pro.politico.eu/...
@ollygough98 Olly Gough on x
When Burnham floated the DSIT breakup, the tech response was swift and furious. This is the best possible answer to that that criticism. A single minister with convening power, positioned to pull 4-5 different departments with competing priorities into one coherent AI strategy.
@lawhsw @lawhsw on x
DSIT staff at an all hands told AISI is moving as part of the “small number” of personnel working under the cabinet office [image]
@mrjkilcoyne Matt Kilcoyne on x
There was a lot of capital spent over the weekend by industry lobbying for DSIT to continue but arguably Kanishka attending Cabinet and rising up the ranks to a more prominent position in the new office is more beneficial than he previously had and it should be welcomed by all.
@thomascollinge Tom Collinge on x
Kanishka is already a brilliant minister and his attendance at cabinet is a sign of how seriously this government will take tech-led growth.
@smyth_chris Chris Smyth on x
No 10 has corrected previous announcement, saying Narayan will be in new DBSIT and Cabinet Office Doesn't suggest great attention to the detail of this reorganisation
@smyth_chris Chris Smyth on x
Looks DSIT has been abolished, though no official announcement yet Science policy goes to business department Tech and digital back to DCMS, a relatively low profile department, apparently in a split with Cabinet Office AI minister Kanishka Narayan will attend cabinet though
@dc_lawrence David Lawrence on x
Possibly the best news to come out of the reshuffle. The UK becomes the first major economy to have a cabinet-level AI minister, and there's no one better to do it than @KanishkaNarayan
@sebjohnsonuk Seb Johnson on x
This is a Europe-wide first. The UK is the first European country to have a Cabinet level position for AI. In itself this would be great news. The fact that @KanishkaNarayan is the minister is fantastic. CONGRATS
@matthewclifford Matt Clifford on x
Fantastic to have Kanishka attending Cabinet as AI minister. He understands the scale and urgency of the opportunity and has brought great energy and clarity to the role over the last year.
@10downingstreet @10downingstreet on x
Kanishka Narayan has been appointed as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) jointly in the @cabinetofficeuk and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. He will attend Cabinet. [video]
@shakeelhashim Shakeel on x
Looking like Kanishka Narayan will stay on as AI Minister and be elevated to Cabinet. Question is which department he'll operate out of — Cabinet Office?
@rowlsmanthorpe Rowland Manthorpe on x
Reliably informed that the decision to scrap DSIT originated in the Cabinet Office, where Antonia Romeo wants to have control over AI - although of course it was signed off by Team Burnham, who don't see AI as a major priority Apparently this goes right back to Starmer's
@discoplomacy Sam on x
Some personal thoughts on the breaking up of DSIT from a national security point of view. 1. DSIT - The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - hosts the AI Security Institute (AISI). This is a unit still poorly understood by most of Westminster. DSIT is reportedly [i…
@shakeelhashim Shakeel on x
“Team Burnham, who don't see AI as a major priority” 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
@ameer_kotecha Ameer Kotecha on x
“Don't see AI as a major priority”. Can you imagine a Singaporean politician thinking this? Can you imagine a businessperson thinking this? We are governed by utter Luddites

Chronicles