Rishi Sunak takes advisory roles at Microsoft and AI startup, donating fees to charity

Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister and current MP for Richmond and Northallerton, has accepted senior part-time advisory positions with tech giant Microsoft and AI startup Anthropic. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which monitors the post-government activities of former ministers, has instructed Sunak not to lobby UK ministers or advise on government contracts for two years. Sunak has stated that he will donate any payments from these roles to the Richmond Project, a charity he founded earlier this year that focuses on improving numeracy. His role at Microsoft is described as providing high-level strategic perspectives on geopolitical trends, while his work at Anthropic is akin to functioning as an internal think tank. Sunak also continues as a paid advisor to Goldman Sachs, where he previously worked. Despite speculation that he might leave the Commons for a Silicon Valley career, Sunak has expressed his commitment to spending more time in his constituency, emphasizing his connection to Yorkshire. During his premiership, Sunak prioritized technology regulation, including hosting an AI safety summit in 2023, reflecting his ongoing interest in the sector.