Former UK Prime Minister Appointed Senior Adviser to Microsoft and Anthropic

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken on senior advisory roles at Microsoft and Anthropic, marking a high-profile move from politics into the global technology and artificial intelligence sectors. The appointments, disclosed by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), have reignited debate about the growing nexus between government and Big Tech, and the potential for conflicts of interest.

Sunak, who led the UK government from 2022 to 2024, will serve in part-time, strategic advisory roles at both companies. His responsibilities are described as internally focused, providing insights into macroeconomic and geopolitical trends influencing innovation, regulation, and digital transformation. He has stated that he will not advise on UK policy matters or engage in lobbying on behalf of either firm.

At Anthropic, Sunak will contribute to long-term strategy as the company strengthens its leadership in AI safety and governance. Backed by Amazon and Google, Anthropic praised Sunak’s leadership in launching the world’s first AI Safety Institute and organising the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in 2023. The company said his experience offers “valuable perspective as we navigate the global landscape of AI safety and responsible innovation.”

At Microsoft, Sunak’s appointment builds on a relationship established during his premiership, when he helped broker a £2.5 billion investment in UK data centres and digital skills training. Microsoft remains a major UK government contractor, with an annual £1.4 billion memorandum of understanding supporting digital transformation and AI services across the public sector.

Acoba’s Approval and Safeguards

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments approved Sunak’s dual roles but imposed strict conditions to prevent conflicts of interest. For two years following his departure from office, Sunak is prohibited from:

• Lobbying UK ministers or government officials

• Advising on UK government contracts or tenders

• Using any privileged information obtained during his time in government

Acoba noted that while time has reduced the sensitivity of the information Sunak holds, his recent involvement in technology policy “raises reasonable concerns about perceived influence.”

To maintain transparency, Sunak announced that he will donate all earnings from both roles to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, which focuses on improving numeracy and social mobility across the UK.

A Growing Trend of Politicians Entering Big Tech

Sunak’s move mirrors a wider trend of former political leaders transitioning into the technology industry. His former adviser Liam Booth-Smith has also joined Anthropic, while Nick Clegg, former Deputy Prime Minister, served as President of Global Affairs at Meta until early 2025. In the United States, major tech companies including Meta and Microsoft have similarly recruited former government officials such as Joel Kaplan and Lisa Monaco to help navigate regulatory and geopolitical challenges.

Sunak’s appointments at Microsoft and Anthropic underscore the increasing convergence of politics, technology, and AI governance—and highlight how global tech firms are turning to former policymakers to shape the future of digital innovation responsibly and strategically.