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UK ministers travel to India for AI Impact Summit
Ahead of the summit, AI Minister Narayan arrived in Bengaluru to explore bilateral cooperation on breakthrough technologies.
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Ishani Duttagupta - Mon, 16, Feb 2026
- 15:34 EST
- 18
UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan / Courtesy: Wikipedia
The UK has a strong delegation participating in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi this week, led by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and India-born AI Minister Kanishka Narayan.
Narayan—who was born in Muzaffarpur, India, and moved to the UK at age 12—hailed AI as “the defining technology of our generation." According to a UK High Commission news release, he emphasized a commitment to ensuring the tech benefits everyone: “It can cut waiting times, transform public services, and create new jobs, giving hardworking communities a fresh start. That is exactly the message we are taking to the summit.”
ALSO READ: Top world leaders to attend India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi
"It is central to our plans for delivering national renewal, but its benefits can’t and shouldn’t be reserved by the few. That’s why the UK is leading from front, pushing a global vision for AI that helps people everywhere to learn more, earn more, and shape the future on their terms,” Narayan, who made history in 2024 as the first ethnic minority Labour MP in Wales, representing the Vale of Glamorgan, said.
In New Delhi, the UK's Deputy Prime Minister will explore how new British and Indian innovations are changing the world in AI and will take part in a session looking at how AI can drive inclusive social empowerment and tackle inequality.
He is expected to speak on a high-level panel on Feb. 20 about unlocking opportunity through global languages, and he will also announce new UK support for the Asian AI for Development (AI4D) Observatory, which will support responsible AI innovation and governance across South and Southeast Asia.
Deputy Prime Minister Lammy said, "The UK is leading the way on AI innovations and expertise. We are rightly a magnet for investment and talent from across the globe.
“This summit is an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI while baking in robust and fair safety standards that protect us all.”
“We are turning ambition into action to deliver UK jobs, growth, and prosperity. The business leaders joining us in India will build concrete partnerships and secure investment that delivers opportunity for working people in the UK, India, and across the globe.”
The UK delegation will make the case that AI is the engine of renewal—helping doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalize learning, councils deliver services in minutes, and businesses create the next generation of good jobs.
Collaboration with India, according to the news release, is critical to the UK’s ambitions in science and technology. The UK and India are investing tens of millions in cutting-edge research—from better batteries and next-generation telecoms for rural communities to genomic medicine that could tackle rare diseases.
Ahead of the summit, Minister Narayan arrived in Bengaluru to explore bilateral cooperation on breakthrough technologies. Despite a nine-hour flight landing at 3:30 AM, he took to social media to share his enthusiasm: “Full of energy on landing... bringing a distinct British AI vision.” He highlighted the UK’s deep tech roots, citing the legacy of Alan Turing and Karen Spärck Jones alongside the global impact of firms like Arm and Google DeepMind.
Turing and Spärck Jones are two of the most influential figures in British computing, both with deep ties to the University of Cambridge. Their work defined the foundations of modern artificial intelligence and information retrieval.
While Turing is known for foundational AI theory (the Turing Test) and codebreaking, Spärck Jones is celebrated for pioneering Natural Language Processing (NLP) and developing techniques critical to search engine functionality, such as Inverse Document Frequency (IDF). Britain is grounded in the ambition of exceptional founders, including ElevenLabs, Fractile, OLIX, Synthesia, and Wayve, Narayan highlighted.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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