Matt Clifford steps down from government-backed Aria after MPs raise concerns over his new senior role at AI firm Anthropic…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Matt Clifford, the chair of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) and former government AI adviser, is stepping down after concerns over a potential conflict of interest following his appointment to a senior role at Anthropic.
Clifford announced that he will leave Aria on 6 November, saying his new position at the US AI company should not become a distraction from the agency’s work.
He joined Anthropic as managing director for international affairs, leading its engagement with governments outside the US, including the UK.
The appointment prompted concerns from senior MPs because Aria funds frontier science and technology projects, including work linked to artificial intelligence. Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, described the situation as a “clear conflict of interest”.
Anthropic had said Clifford would recuse himself from any Aria matters involving the company, with safeguards agreed with the government.
Clifford was appointed as chair of Aria in 2022 and previously served as an AI adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He also played a key role in the UK’s 2023 AI Safety Summit and helped establish the organisation that became the AI Security Institute.
His departure has renewed wider concerns about the movement of senior government figures and advisers into major technologycompanies, particularly as governments develop policies to regulate rapidly advancing AI.
