Rishi Sunak’s New Roles with Microsoft and Anthropic
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently accepted senior advisory roles with Microsoft and the AI startup Anthropic. This news was disclosed through letters published by Westminster’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) and comes as Sunak continues his post-political career, also holding a position with Goldman Sachs International. Notably, he has garnered over £150,000 per speaking engagement from various investment firms, broadening his influence in the financial sector.
Sunak served as the UK Prime Minister from October 2022 until July 2024 and has long praised Microsoft, referring to it as “one of the founding fathers of modern technology”. His new roles come as no surprise, resembling the trajectory of Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, who also transitioned into advisory positions with tech giants.
A significant moment in Sunak’s political career included a £2.5 billion deal unveiled during a summit at Bletchley Park in November 2023, aimed at boosting Microsoft’s investment in the UK. Following that, Microsoft reinforced its commitment to the UK with a pledge of an additional £22 billion earlier this year. Sunak’s close ties with executives like Bill Gates and engagement with OpenAI illustrate a well-established rapport with major players in the tech industry.
Microsoft’s partnership with the UK government includes several lucrative contracts, such as a £1.4 billion annual deal for digital transformation and AI services. However, Sunak’s previous decisions while in office, which included obstructing Microsoft’s acquisition attempts of the gaming giant Activision, raise critical questions about the implications of his advisory role. Acoba has put in place conditions to prevent any potential conflicts of interest concerning Sunak’s access to sensitive information related to Microsoft.
Despite these concerns, Acoba assured that there was no expectation for Sunak’s new role during his tenure as Prime Minister, confirming that the Cabinet Office had no specific knowledge of decisions made regarding Anthropic while he was in office. Sunak has committed to steering clear of lobbying or influencing UK policies, stating he will offer “high-level strategic perspectives on macro-economic and geopolitical trends” instead.
Sunak’s involvement with Anthropic, a $180 billion AI company spearheading advancements in artificial general intelligence (AGI), aligns with his previous initiatives in AI. Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, has warned that AI could significantly impact job markets, further highlighting the importance of regulating such technologies responsibly. The potential conflicts between advisory roles and the critical legislative landscape surrounding AI are under scrutiny as debates amplify worldwide on the technology’s regulation.
Despite these challenges, Sunak expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the tech industry, emphasizing the transformative potential of technology and its implications across economies and societies. He looks forward to supporting both companies in navigating this technological revolution, ensuring its benefits are widely realized.
In an impressive display of social responsibility, Sunak plans to donate his salary from both advisory positions to the Richmond Project—an initiative to enhance social mobility through numeracy, co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty.
Anthropic has welcomed Sunak’s appointment, acknowledging his recognition of AI’s transformative capabilities. As he steps into this new chapter, his ability to influence strategic decisions in technology and AI will be closely monitored amidst ongoing debates about the ethical implications and governance of these powerful tools.