Former UK PM Rishi Sunak Takes Advisory Roles at Microsoft and Anthropic

Reviewed byNidhi Govil

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Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister, has been appointed as a senior adviser to tech giants Microsoft and AI firm Anthropic. This move raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the revolving door between politics and tech industry.

Former UK Prime Minister Joins Tech Giants

Rishi Sunak, who served as the United Kingdom's prime minister from 2022 to 2024, has taken on senior advisory roles at Microsoft and Anthropic, two major players in the technology and artificial intelligence sectors

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. This move comes just a year after Sunak left office, following a trend of former politicians transitioning into the tech industry

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Source: Economic Times

Source: Economic Times

Roles and Responsibilities

At Microsoft, Sunak will provide "high-level strategic perspectives on macro-economic and geopolitical trends"

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. His role at Anthropic, an AI firm competing with companies like OpenAI and Google, is described as "akin to operating as an internal think tank"

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. Sunak has stated that he will not advise on UK policy matters or engage in lobbying activities

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Source: Benzinga

Source: Benzinga

Potential Conflicts of Interest

The appointments have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) noted that there are "risks associated with your access to information that may grant Microsoft an unfair advantage"

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. During his tenure as prime minister, Sunak unveiled a £2.5 billion deal with Microsoft for investment in UK data centers and training

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Restrictions and Safeguards

To address these concerns, Acoba has imposed several restrictions on Sunak's new roles:

  1. He must not lobby ministers on behalf of the corporations

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  2. He is prohibited from advising on bidding for UK contracts

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  3. He cannot lobby the government for two years from his last day in ministerial office

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Charitable Donation of Salary

Sunak has announced that he will donate his salary from both Microsoft and Anthropic to the Richmond Project, a charity he founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, earlier this year

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. The charity focuses on tackling numeracy problems and promoting social mobility

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Broader Context: The Revolving Door

Sunak's appointments highlight the ongoing trend of former politicians taking roles in the tech industry. This "revolving door" between government and Silicon Valley has been active for years, with notable examples including:

  1. Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister, who served as Meta's president of global affairs until January 2025

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  2. Joel Kaplan, George W. Bush's former deputy chief of staff, who joined Meta's policy team

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  3. Lisa Monaco, former deputy attorney general under Joe Biden, who is now Microsoft's president of global affairs

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Implications for AI Regulation

Sunak's appointments come at a time of intense debate around AI regulation. During his premiership, Sunak made tech regulation a significant priority, setting up an AI safety summit in 2023

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. His new roles with Microsoft and Anthropic raise questions about the potential influence of former politicians on shaping AI policies and regulations

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Source: Silicon Republic

Source: Silicon Republic

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