Matt Clifford Leaves UK AI Adviser Role for Senior Position at Anthropic

Matt Clifford, the former architect of the United Kingdom’s AI strategy, has left his unpaid post as AI opportunities adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and taken a senior position at the U.S. startup Anthropic. He will serve as managing director, international affairs, leading the company’s engagement with governments outside the United States, including the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific and India. Clifford will retain his chairmanship of the government-backed Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) and remain chair of the venture-builder Entrepreneurs First, which he co-founded.

The Guardian

Clifford, a 41-year-old tech investor, was appointed AI adviser after drafting the government’s AI action plan, which proposes AI growth zones and the development of domestic AI models. He previously represented former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the 2023 AI Safety Summit and helped establish the AI Security Institute. Prior to his government work, Clifford co-founded Entrepreneurs First, a firm that has helped launch companies valued at more than $20 billion. His move follows a pattern of former UK officials entering Silicon Valley roles, such as former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg’s senior position at Meta and former chancellor George Osborne’s role at OpenAI.

The Guardian

Clifford said the most important decisions about AI will be made by “companies and governments together,” adding that his job is to make Anthropic a “genuine partner” for countries seeking agency over how the technology is built and used. An Anthropic spokesperson noted that the UK is “one of dozens” of governments Clifford’s team will engage with, emphasizing the need for staff who understand governmental processes. Labour MP Chi Onwurah, chair of the science, innovation and technology committee, described Clifford’s contribution to domestic AI policy as “significant” and argued that movement between the public and private sectors should be allowed, while expressing concern about the speed of his transition.

The Guardian

Tom Brake, chief executive of the campaign group Unlock Democracy, warned that the “revolving door” gives private firms a huge advantage and weakens the government’s ability to push for a precautionary approach to AI development.

The Guardian

• “Taking extensive knowledge obtained within government, about a policy as sensitive as AI to a private sector company shortly after leaving government gives that company a huge advantage,” — Tom Brake, the chief executive of Unlock Democracy, a not-for-profit campaign group

The Guardian

• “We need more independent politics, which puts the interests of workers, citizens and society at the forefront of our relationship with the tech sector.” — MP Chi Onwurah, Labour chair of the science, innovation and technology committee

The Guardian