New Delhi: Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has become a senior adviser at Microsoft and artificial intelligence research company Anthropic. Sunak added that he is keen on assisting both companies in addressing big strategic questions on how technology can be useful in the economies, security, and society. The news arrives when artificial intelligence is still transforming sectors and international politics.
In his part-time role, Sunak, who is still a Member of Parliament, will advise on the macroeconomic and geopolitical issues at the high level. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) notes that in his work he will not be required to lobby or provide advice on UK policy issues, but rather he will be working on the strategy within the company. The earnings of the roles will be provided as donations to The Richmond Project, a charity organisation he co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, to further numeracy skills.
Strategic roles and compliance
Microsoft and Anthropic confirmed that the advisory roles of Sunak will be ring-fenced accordingly to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. They pointed out that his ideas will serve to shape their long-term plans but not to shape government policies. Sunak called Microsoft a firm that has enhanced productivity over the decades and Anthropic one of the most promising AI frontier labs.
Building AI legacy
As prime minister between 2022 and 2024, Sunak prioritised AI in the country. In 2021 he founded the first AI Safety Institute in the world and the AI Safety Summit at the UK AI infrastructure location of Bletchley Park, where Microsoft committed to investing £2.5 billion in AI infrastructure in the UK. Anthropic acclaimed his ability to see the transformative power of AI early.
Another high-profile appointment since quitting the Conservative Party leadership in the 2024 election victory of the Labour Party is Sunak remaining a senior adviser to Goldman Sachs.