Rishi Sunak has accepted advisory roles with Microsoft and artificial intelligence startup Anthropic following his tenure as Prime Minister of the UK. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which oversees the activities of former government officials, has instructed Sunak not to lobby government ministers on behalf of these companies.
Sunak, who continues to serve as the MP for Richmond and Northallerton, expressed satisfaction in collaborating with two prominent technology firms and intends to donate his earnings to his charity aimed at addressing numeracy issues in the UK. During his time in office, Sunak prioritized tech regulation and convened an AI safety summit in 2023.
Acoba’s correspondence with Sunak clarified that his role at Microsoft involves providing “high-level strategic perspectives” on geopolitical trends. His advisory position at Anthropic was likened to functioning as an internal think tank. Acoba has noted that Anthropic has significant interests in UK government policy, raising potential concerns about providing “unfair access and influence” within the government framework. The same concerns were raised regarding his appointment with Microsoft, a key investor in the UK.
Despite these concerns, Acoba acknowledged that the time elapsed since Sunak’s government service would limit the relevance of any information he might still possess. Sunak is under a two-year restriction from advising on UK contracts or lobbying the government following his last day in office.
In addition to his roles with Microsoft and Anthropic, Sunak will also serve as a paid advisor to Goldman Sachs, where he worked early in his career. Speculation had arisen about his possible transition to a role in Silicon Valley after leaving his parliamentary position, but he has committed to spending more time in his constituency. Sunak described his locality as “the greatest place on Earth,” indicating his intention to remain engaged in local affairs.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyqe22pz81o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss