Professor Celestine Iwendi, Head of the University of Greater Manchester’s Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIoTh), met with the newly-appointed government Minister for AI, Kanishka Narayan, at the Fabian Society's Festival of Ideas 2026 in Liverpool. The discussion focused on the future of artificial intelligence in both work and society.
Mr Narayan, the UK's first cabinet-level Minister for Artificial Intelligence, oversees AI policy, strategy, innovation, research infrastructure, and economy-wide adoption. He engaged with Professor Iwendi during the ‘AI and Good Growth in Every Region’ session, which aligns with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s vision for regional growth.
Mr Narayan has agreed to participate in the ‘November to Remember’ Parliament programme next month, alongside the 2026 President and CEO of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Mary Ellen Randall.
Professor Iwendi described the conversation as "substantive", covering AI and the future of work, skills development, responsible innovation, regulation, and the practical application of AI across industry and society. The event gathered senior figures from industry, technology, academia, and policy to explore how AI can enhance productivity, reshape employment, and deliver societal value.
Representing CIoTh at the event were Associate Researcher and VP, IEEE Student Branch, Emmanuel Edim; Researcher, CIoTh, Sharon Emmanuel; and Visiting Associate Researcher, CIoTh, Temienor Philip-Neris Nikatsekpe.
