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Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has officially transitioned into the tech sector, accepting dual senior advisory positions at Microsoft and the artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic. This move marks a significant career shift for Sunak, positioning him within the global forefront of technological innovation and AI development.
Sunak, who will continue to serve as an MP, has been a vocal advocate for the tech industry throughout his political career, even leading an AI safety summit in 2023 during his premiership. Yesterday, the former Conservative leader expressed his firm belief that "technology will transform our world," adding, "In my role as a senior adviser, I want to help these companies ensure that this shift delivers the improvements in all of our lives that it can."
Microsoft is leveraging Sunak's expertise in AI tools, a field where he is recognized as a key backer of OpenAI, Anthropic's direct competitor. Anthropic itself, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees, is dedicated to developing responsible AI and has cited Sunak as "among the first global leaders to recognize AI's transformative potential." The company stated, "His experience will provide valuable strategic perspective." Both Microsoft and Anthropic have confirmed that Sunak's involvement will be "appropriately ring fenced and separated from any lobbying activity" with the UK government, according to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA).
Sunak's twin appointments are seen as a strategic push for AI breakthroughs, with his new roles placing him at the intersection of major tech players. His work will include advising on "high-level strategic perspectives" on geopolitical trends. He also currently sits on the advisory board of Goldman Sachs, a position he held before entering politics.
The former PM will donate his earnings from these advisory roles to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, the daughter of Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Microsoft declined to comment further on the specifics of Sunak's role.
