Microsoft, Anthropic Hire Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

1 month ago 5

Britain’s former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the U.K. AI Safety Summit in 2023.

Microsoft and AI firm Anthropic hired former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as an adviser, following his appointment to a similar role at Goldman Sachs.

Sunak, who remains a member of Britain’s parliament, said in a social media post Thursday that he would be working with the tech companies as a senior adviser and strategic consultant. He will donate his full compensation from the roles to The Richmond Project, a charity run by him and wife Akshata Murty that aims to improve numeracy in the U.K., Sunak said.

Anthropic and Microsoft are addressing strategic questions on how to make tech work for economies, security and society, he said.

Sunak took on a similar role as a senior adviser at Goldman Sachs in July, where he had previously worked as an analyst in the early 2000s before shifting into hedge-fund roles and later entering politics.

His move into advisory roles comes after he became Prime Minister in the fall of 2022—until his Conservative Party lost a general election to the Labour Party last year. He still holds a seat in parliament as a lawmaker representing the Richmond and Northallerton constituencies in northern England.

During his time as PM, Sunak held a summit on artificial intelligence in November 2023, and launched the U.K.’s AI Safety Institute.

A spokesperson for Anthropic said the role is a part-time appointment and fully complies with requirements outlined by the U.K.’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

The independent committee, which advices former ministers seeking roles after their service, recommended that Sunak’s roles should be limited to giving strategy, macroeconomic and geopolitical advice, and not relating to work of the U.K. government for a period of two years after his last day in office.

Microsoft said it had a strong system in place for addressing conflicts, according to the committee.

“Microsoft works with advisors from a range of industries and is thankful for their expertise and insights,” a company spokesperson said.

Sunak didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Write to Aimee Look at [email protected]