London, October 10(HS): Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken up high-profile advisory positions with technology giant Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic, in a move that underscores his long-standing interest in the intersection of policy and innovation.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which monitors the post-government activities of former ministers, has cleared Sunak’s appointments on the condition that he does not engage in lobbying or assist the firms in bidding for UK government contracts for two years following his departure from office.
Sunak, who continues to serve as Member of Parliament for Richmond and Northallerton, said he was “delighted” to collaborate with “two of the world’s leading tech firms,” adding that all proceeds from his new roles would be donated to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with his wife to improve numeracy education across Britain.
According to Acoba’s published advice, Sunak’s position at Microsoft involves providing “high-level strategic perspectives” on international and technological trends. His role at Anthropic — a leading competitor to OpenAI, Google, and Meta — is likened to acting as an “internal think tank,” contributing insights on AI governance and innovation strategy.
However, the watchdog cautioned that both companies have “significant interests in UK government policy,” noting that Sunak’s connections could inadvertently create perceptions of “unfair access and influence.”
It added, nonetheless, that the time elapsed since his premiership reduced the sensitivity of any information he still holds.
Sunak served as prime minister from October 2022 to July 2024, making technology regulation one of his key priorities — including the launch of the AI Safety Summit in 2023, which positioned the UK as a global hub for responsible AI development.In addition to his new technology roles, Sunak had earlier been appointed as a paid adviser to Goldman Sachs, where he worked as an investment analyst before entering politics.
Despite earlier speculation that he might relocate to California — where he owns a home and previously held residency — Sunak has reaffirmed his commitment to British public life. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in Yorkshire,” he told Parliament during his final Prime Minister’s Questions session.
Sharing his vision on social media, Sunak said he hopes to use his new roles to ensure that rapid technological change “delivers improvements in all our lives.” He described the present era as “a technological revolution whose impacts will be as profound as those of the industrial revolution — only faster.”
Through his growing involvement in the technology and finance sectors, Sunak appears set to blend his policy experience with private-sector influence, positioning himself once again at the centre of global conversations about the future of artificial intelligence and innovation.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
