Rishi Sunak joins Anthropic and Microsoft as senior adviser

Rishi Sunak has stepped back into the intersection of technology and statecraft by taking up senior advisory positions with both Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic. The dual appointments mark a high-profile corporate move for the former British prime minister, who remains a Member of Parliament representing Richmond and Northallerton, and signal how deeply foundational AI developers are intertwining themselves with former political heavyweights as the global technology race accelerates.

The appointments bring a former leader directly into the corporate fold of companies constructing infrastructure that stretches far beyond borders, shaping labour markets, mediating speech, and increasingly substituting for public state-run infrastructure. During his time leading the government, Sunak made technology regulation a prominent priority, spearheading the creation of the UK's AI Safety Institute and hosting the landmark international AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Those experiences gave him a depth of institutional insight that tech giants are eager to draw from.

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According to Windows Central, Sunak's part-time role at Microsoft involves offering guidance on global macroeconomics, geopolitical trends, and potential AI and digital policy developments. Meanwhile, his position at Anthropic functions more as an internal think tank, focusing on global AI safety, innovation, and regulatory trends outside the UK. Both companies confirmed the appointments after they cleared review by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba).

The independent watchdog noted that because Anthropic has a significant interest in UK government policy, Sunak's appointment could potentially be seen to offer unfair access and influence. Consequently, Acoba imposed stringent restrictions, barring him from lobbying government officials, drawing on privileged government information, or advising on UK policy and contracts for at least two years from his last day in ministerial office.

The move places Sunak among a growing cluster of senior British political figures transitioning from Westminster to American Big Tech. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was named Managing Director and Head of OpenAI for Countries, a unit tasked with expanding datacentre programmes and working directly with governments globally. Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg serves as Meta's global affairs chief, while Matt Clifford, the UK government's recent AI Opportunities Adviser, joined Anthropic as Managing Director for International Affairs.

Critics have raised concerns over the expanding revolving door connecting government machinery to artificial intelligence firms. Alex Sobel, a Labour MP and member of Westminster's joint committee on human rights investigating AI, expressed deep concern that tech companies may be using their immense financial power to water down much-needed regulation by hiring those who served at the highest levels of previous administrations. Similarly, commentators note that as Silicon Valley firms increasingly behave less like normal companies and more like quasi-governments, they are hiring former senior politicians to act as their diplomatic corps, securing legitimacy and institutional credibility across jurisdictions.

Despite these criticisms, supporters point out that Sunak's roles are strictly advisory and non-executive. Furthermore, he has pledged to donate all earnings from his positions at Microsoft and Anthropic to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with his wife to tackle numeracy challenges among children.

As governments worldwide grapple with whether to treat AI developers like standard software vendors or critical national utilities, the presence of former leaders inside the boardrooms of major technology firms will continue to draw intense scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators, and the public alike.