Britain's ability to win wars is increasingly determined by its AI and tech powers, technology minister Kanishka Narayan has warned. In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, the minister for artificial intelligence said controlling the UK's own AI is crucial for national security and defence.
AI as a Decisive Factor in Modern Warfare
“I believe that the capability a country has in AI is the most important question for its future economy and for its future national security,” Narayan said. “Who wins a war today is determined more by who has the drones and AI to win a war, rather than just who has the conventional artillery to win a war? If that's right, you want your core technology, AI drone technology, AI data centres, AI applications built in your country, so that you have true ownership of it and the ability to use it in the way that works for your people.”
Narayan admitted Britain is “going to be behind” in terms of jobs and national security if it does not ensure it has AI infrastructure and capability built domestically. He said the government is ambitious to go further on AI sovereignty, the term used to describe a country’s control over AI data, models, operations and governance.
Welcoming Debate on AI Independence
Pressed on reports that PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham wants a stronger focus on British tech sovereignty, Narayan said: “I welcome the conversation on sovereignty. I feel like I've been going on about it for months and months, and so it's great that there's an even wider focus on it. We have a good strategy, but you know, clearly a big part of that is to try and go even further and to go even faster.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also emphasised the transformative role of AI. On Tuesday, she told the Foreign Affairs Committee: “I do agree that actually that was not highlighted in the priorities in February. That is a reflection of the pace at which this is moving, and this is me looking forward and thinking this is going to shape everything that we do. I think over the next 18 months to two years, it's going to influence all of our foreign policy debates, and that means we in the Foreign Office have to adapt.”
AI in Public Services and Communities
In February, the government named Barnsley as the UK’s first ‘Tech Town’ to serve as an example of how AI can improve everyday communities. On Tuesday, applications opened for an £800,000 fund to support innovative AI programmes to train local workers, businesses and residents in the South Yorkshire market town. Training providers are invited to present ideas that include people “who might not otherwise think they are a part of the AI revolution,” Narayan said. This could include teaching an elderly person about the benefits of voice technology or training NHS professionals in tools that cut admin in hospitals.
Narayan also expects some training programmes to be pitched for school children, including teaching kids about AI safety in the same way learning about cybersecurity is an important part of computer studies. He added: “I want young people starting from the earliest possible ages to think deeply, critically, and to value what are human skills more and more. Because the big thing I believe is that in the age of AI, we are going to value the things that make us humans even more. That's things like better communication, deeper care and compassion, critical thinking, so that we become managers of AI and we control AI rather than the other way around.”
AI in Policing and Defence
AI is also being ramped up across public services. On Tuesday, the Home Office announced AI will be used by police officers to summarise evidence to help manage the vast volumes of digital material generated during modern investigations. This move underscores the government's commitment to integrating AI into critical national functions, from defence to law enforcement, as part of a broader strategy to maintain technological sovereignty and security.
