AI minister hints at Budget measures as UK weighs tougher tech rules Tech AI minister Kanishka Narayan has hinted at new measures in next week’s Budget, as the government considers tougher regulation of AI alongside plans to reduce Britain’s dependence on foreign technology. Narayan said ministers must go beyond regulating AI and develop domestic technology to give Britain greater influence over how it is used. Speaking on BBC’s [...]
AI giant Perplexity taps London startup Valarian in sovereign tech drive Tech US AI giant Perplexity has struck a deal with London-based startup Valarian to bring its technology into the UK government and defence systems, a major boost to Britain’s ambition to reduce its reliance on foreign tech infrastructure. The partnership will let governments and businesses handling sensitive information deploy Perplexity’s AI within their own infrastructure, keeping [...]
AI minister warned UK risks becoming ‘high-value AI customer’ Tech Britain risks becoming a “high value AI customer” rather than developing its own tech unless ministers urgently invest in domestic firms, the government’s top science advisory body has warned. In a letter to AI minister Kanishka Narayan, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) called for a national AI sovereignty plan to reduce Britain’s reliance [...]
AI minister updates guidance after ‘don’t thank ChatGPT’ advice to civil servants October 1, 2026 Britain’s AI minister has ordered changes to government guidance that urged civil servants to limit their use of AI, saying it failed to reflect ministers’ ambitions to ramp up adoption across Whitehall. Kanishka Narayan said guidance published last week had now been updated after it advised government workers to use AI only when necessary, choose [...]
Government admits Burnham’s Whitehall shake-up leaves tech policy in limbo September 11, 2026 Nearly two months after Andy Burnham abolished Britain’s technology department, ministers have admitted parts of the former department still have nowhere to go. A long-awaited breakdown of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) carve-up revealed a “small number of policy areas” are yet to be allocated, while some staff are still waiting to [...]
London bags $9bn US AI firm Replit’s first overseas office September 9, 2026 Replit, the $9bn (£6.64bn) US AI coding start-up, has picked London for its first international office as the capital continues to attract some of Silicon Valley’s fastest-growing AI companies. The San Francisco-based company has opened in King’s Cross and will use London as the base for its European operations, with plans to double its local [...]
Skilled tech visa applications fall again despite AI talent push August 17, 2026 The number of overseas tech workers applying for UK visas has fallen for a third consecutive year, despite ministers promising to make Britain a magnet for global AI talent. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by consulting firm RSM UK found that applications from skilled tech workers dropped seven per cent to 34,936 in 2025, [...]
‘Absurd’: Government seeks quantum tech chief – no experience necessary August 12, 2026 The government is recruiting a senior official to oversee billions of pounds of quantum investment despite saying candidates do not need any background in the technology. A job advert for a deputy head of the Office for Quantum published on Tuesday says the successful candidate could oversee the rollout of the UK’s national quantum programme, [...]
AI Minister: Visa reform key to keeping tech giants in Britain July 27, 2026 AI Minister Kanishka Narayan renewed calls for more visas for top engineers, arguing that the UK will need to do more to help tech companies scale at home rather than sell overseas. In his first interview since joining Andy Burnham’s cabinet, Narayan said he would use his seat at the top table to push for [...]
‘Phenomenal waste of time’: Burnham slammed over plans to dismantle tech department July 21, 2026 Andy Burnham faced immediate questions over his decision to abolish the tech department on Tuesday, as peers warned the move risked disrupting Britain’s AI strategy. Ministers were hauled before the House of Lords less than a day after the machinery of government changes to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) were announced, where [...]