Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently accepted senior advisory positions at both Microsoft and Anthropic, marking a significant move into the technology sector. These roles will see Sunak providing strategic guidance to the companies on a range of global issues, while also adhering to certain restrictions related to lobbying and government influence.
At Microsoft, Sunak will serve as a part-time senior advisor, offering his insights on macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and their intersection with innovation, regulation, and digital transformation. He will also participate in speaking engagements for the company. However, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), Sunak is prohibited from lobbying the UK government on behalf of Microsoft or advising on UK policy matters until later next year. This restriction aims to prevent any potential conflicts of interest arising from his recent position as Prime Minister.
Similarly, Sunak's role at Anthropic, an AI startup founded by former OpenAI employees, will focus on his strategic global outlook. Anthropic, which positions itself as a safer alternative in the competitive AI market, is backed by major players like Amazon and Google. Sunak's expertise is expected to help Anthropic navigate the complex landscape of AI governance and international relations. As with the Microsoft role, Sunak is barred from leveraging UK government connections or engaging in lobbying activities for Anthropic.
Sunak's decision to take on these advisory roles highlights the increasing trend of tech companies seeking individuals with government experience to help them navigate the complex interplay of geopolitics, regulation, and innovation. His appointment follows a similar move by former Liberal Democrat deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who became a paid advisor to Meta.
According to reports, Sunak will donate his entire salary from both Microsoft and Anthropic to The Richmond Project, a charity he founded with his wife to promote numeracy skills. Despite these new roles, Sunak remains a sitting Member of Parliament, indicating his intention to stay active in British politics. In addition to Microsoft and Anthropic, Sunak has also rejoined Goldman Sachs as an advisor, where he previously worked from 2001 to 2004.
The appointment has drawn attention to the intersection of AI governance and political influence, particularly as companies grapple with ethical and national security considerations. Microsoft, for example, has several large contracts with government departments, including a memorandum of understanding representing a yearly spend of £1.4 billion to deliver digital transformation, adoption of AI, and cloud services.
Sunak's move into the tech sector comes after serving as Prime Minister from October 2022 to July 2024. During his time in office, he unveiled a £2.5 billion deal with Microsoft at the Bletchley Park AI summit in November 2023, which included Microsoft's investment in new datacenters. He also held meetings with Bill Gates and figures from OpenAI, in which Microsoft is a major investor.
