former uk prime minister rishi sunak to advise microsoft and anthropic 

Rishi Sunak's New Roles at Microsoft and Anthropic

Following his tenure as the United Kingdom’s prime minister from 2022 to 2024, Rishi Sunak has accepted senior advisory positions with both Microsoft and Anthropic, as reported by The Guardian.

Concerns Regarding Potential Unfair Advantage

Disclosures from the Parliament’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), detailing Sunak’s appointments, have raised concerns. Specifically, it's been suggested that his prior access to privileged information could potentially provide Microsoft with an undue competitive advantage.

Sunak’s previous engagement with Microsoft is noteworthy. In 2023, he announced a substantial £2.5 billion investment by Microsoft in new U.K. data centers and training initiatives.

AI Regulation and Influence

Acoba further indicated a reasonable apprehension that Sunak’s appointment might be perceived as granting unfair access and influence within the U.K. government.

This concern is particularly relevant given the ongoing discussions surrounding the optimal regulation of AI. Intense debate and lobbying efforts are currently underway globally to determine the appropriate regulatory approach.

Sunak's Commitments and Charitable Donation

Sunak has stated his intention to avoid providing advice on specific U.K. policy matters.

He will focus on offering high-level insights into macro-economic and geopolitical trends, and has committed to refrain from any lobbying activities.

Furthermore, Sunak plans to donate his salary from these advisory roles to the Richmond Project, a charitable organization he and his wife established earlier this year.

Broader Trend of Political Figures Joining Tech Companies

Sunak is not alone in transitioning to advisory roles with Silicon Valley technology companies.

His former senior political advisor, Liam Booth-Smith, is also employed by Anthropic.

Previously, Nick Clegg, former Deputy Prime Minister representing the Liberal Democrats, served as Meta’s president of global affairs until January 2025.

The "Revolving Door" in the United States

A similar pattern exists in the United States, with a frequent movement of personnel between Silicon Valley and the U.S. government.

At Meta, Joel Kaplan, who previously served as George W. Bush’s deputy chief of staff, replaced Clegg.

Additionally, Dustin Carmack, a former advisor to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, joined Meta’s policy team in 2024.

Currently, Lisa Monaco, formerly the deputy attorney general under Joe Biden, holds the position of president of global affairs at Microsoft.