Matt Clifford has stepped down as chair of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) after being appointed to a position at US tech company Anthropic. The announcement sparked concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, as Anthropic is recognized for its development of the Claude AI models. Clifford, who was first appointed as Aria’s chairperson in July 2022, had also acted as an AI opportunities adviser to former prime minister Keir Starmer, contributing to the government’s AI action plan. This initiative resulted in the establishment of the £500 million Sovereign AI Fund.
On September 2, Clifford disclosed that he was taking on a role at Anthropic as managing director for international affairs, with the intention of keeping his position at Aria. However, this choice was met with criticism, notably from Chi Onwurah, chair of the House of Commons science committee, who pointed out the potential conflict of interest due to Aria’s investment in AI-related research.
On September 7, Clifford declared his decision to resign from Aria, effective until November 6. This action ensures that his responsibilities with Anthropic will not become a distraction. In the meantime, the Department of Business Innovation Science and Technology will commence the search for his successor.
Chi Onwurah stated that resolving the conflict of interest was a necessary step but stressed the importance of understanding how the issue arose, what evaluations were carried out, and what precautions are being implemented to protect Aria’s governance. A comprehensive government response is anticipated in the upcoming weeks.