Matt Clifford, the 41-year-old tech investor who drafted the UK government's AI action plan, has joined Anthropic as Managing Director of International Affairs. Announced this Wednesday, his appointment strengthens ties between politics and the AI industry at a crucial moment for global regulation.

A Strategic Move in the AI World

Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneurs First and former chair of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), has been appointed Managing Director of International Affairs at Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot. The news, reported by The Guardian, marks a milestone in Clifford's career, having advised two British prime ministers on artificial intelligence.

Clifford, 41 years old, joins Anthropic a year after leaving Downing Street, where he served as AI Opportunities Advisor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His role, which he took on in 2025 and left after six months for personal reasons, was unpaid. During that time, he drafted the UK government's AI action plan, which includes creating growth zones for data centers and developing the country's own AI models.

In his new position, Clifford will lead relations with governments outside the United States, including the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and India. Anthropic, which is preparing for an initial public offering with a potential valuation of $2 trillion, aims to strengthen its global presence and influence in AI regulation.

Background and Career

Clifford's career has been marked by his dual role as an investor and government advisor. As co-founder of Entrepreneurs First, a venture capital firm, he has backed companies with a combined value exceeding $20 billion. His experience in the tech ecosystem led him to represent then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the 2023 AI Safety Summit and to help create the organization that became the UK AI Safety Institute.

Since 2022, Clifford has chaired ARIA, the UK's advanced research agency, a position he will retain but will step back from on matters related to Anthropic to avoid conflicts of interest.

Reactions and Criticism

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Tom Brake, CEO of Unlock Democracy, criticized the 'revolving door' between government and industry, saying it gives private companies an advantage and weakens the government's ability to regulate AI. Meanwhile, Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer, called for independent policies that prioritize workers and citizens.

Labour MP Chi Onwurah, chair of the science and technology committee, acknowledged Clifford's contribution but expressed concern that he is taking his knowledge to a global AI company so soon. 'I hope he promotes responsible AI,' she said.

This move adds to a trend of former UK officials joining tech giants: Nick Clegg at Meta (2018), Rishi Sunak at Microsoft and Anthropic (2025), and George Osborne at OpenAI.

Official Statements

Anthropic justified the hire by noting that the UK is 'one of dozens' of governments Clifford's team will work with, and that they hire people with government experience because their work requires it. Clifford, for his part, said: 'The most important decisions about AI will be made by companies and governments together', and defined his mission as making Anthropic a genuine partner in Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Clifford's appointment comes at a time when AI regulation is a central topic on the global agenda, with the European Union, the United States, and the UK debating legal frameworks for the development of this technology.