Anthropic hires architect of UK AI policy as MPs warn of 'clear conflict of interest'

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Matt Clifford plans to keep role as ARIA chair while leading the LLM maker's dealings with governments outside North America

UK Parliament's science and technology committee has asked the government to explain how it will avoid conflicts of interest after Anthropic recruited Matt Clifford, chair of blue-sky research agency ARIA.

Clifford said he was joining the US AI poster child as managing director of international affairs, "leading the company's work with governments outside North America."

He was commissioned to write the "AI Opportunities Action Plan" in July 2024. The government published it in January 2025, adopted all 50 recommendations, and appointed Clifford as its AI Opportunities Adviser.

Clifford also chairs the Advanced Research and Invention Agency(ARIA), the high-risk, high-reward research body modeled on the US agency DARPA. He said he would retain that position and his role at UK venture capital and seed funding company Entrepreneurs...

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