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Rishi Sunak hired by Microsoft and Anthropic as paid adviser
Rishi Sunak has taken up paid adviser roles at tech giant Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic.
The former prime minister has been told he must not lobby ministers on behalf of the companies by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), an independent watchdog which oversees the activities of former government figures.
Sunak – who remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton – said he was “delighted” to be working “with two of the world’s leading tech firms” and planned to donate his earnings to a charity he founded.
During his premiership, Sunak made tech regulation a significant priority, setting up an AI safety summit in 2023.
In letters of advice sent to Sunak by Acoba and published on Thursday, his part-time role at Microsoft was described as providing “high- level strategic perspectives” on geopolitical trends.
The watchdog said it had been informed by Sunak that his part-time advisory role at Anthropic – an AI firm seeking to compete with companies like OpenAI, Google and Meta – would be “akin to operating as an internal think tank”.
Acoba said Anthropic “has a significant interest in UK government policy”, meaning that Sunak’s appointment could potentially be seen to offer “unfair access and influence” within government.
The appointment with Microsoft, a “major investor” in the UK, also presented similar issues, it wrote.
However, it also said that his time spent out of government would have reduced the value of any information Sunak may still possess, while reiterating the standing rules ex-ministers have to abide when seeking employment after leaving government.
Sunak was told not to advise on bidding for UK contracts, or to lobby the government for two years from his last day in ministerial office.
In addition to the two tech roles, it was previously confirmed Sunak will act as a paid advisor to the bank Goldman Sachs, where he previously worked between 2001 and 2004.
There had been speculation that Sunak, who was in No 10 between October 2022 and July 2024, would leave the Commons to take up a Silicon Valley role shortly after the election.
He previously lived in California, where he still has a home, and held a US visa until 2021.
But in his final prime minister’s questions, Sunak vowed to spend more time in his constituency, which he called “the greatest place on Earth”.
“If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire,” he said.
All proceeds from the new roles will be donated to The Richmond Project, a charity Sunak founded with his wife to tackle numeracy problems in the UK, another area he was vocal about while in Downing Street.
Posting on social media, Sunak said he would use his roles to “ensure” that coming technological change “delivers the improvements in all of our lives”.
Sunak said: “I have long believed that technology will transform our world and play a key part in determining our future.
“We stand on the edge of a technological revolution whose impacts will be as profound as those of the industrial revolution: and felt more quickly.”
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Setting a Global Standard | Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Regulation – Brown & Brown
- Setting a Global Standard | Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Regulation Brown & Brown
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Swimming: How to watch Leon Marchand live at Swimming World Cup
Four-time Olympic champion Léon Marchand returns to competition this weekend at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup (10–12 October) in Carmel, Indiana, the first of three short-course stops in North America.
The French superstar is entered…
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‘Venetian Vespers’ by John Banville | Book Review
John Banville’s “Venetian Vespers” transports us to the mysterious Italian city that has lured a flotilla of writers to its shores. From Thomas Mann to Daphne du Maurier, Patricia Highsmith, Michael Dibdin and Donna Leon, novelists have…
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Innovative screening tool launched to identify individuals at risk for hereditary cancers
Ochsner Health announces the launch of its Genetic Wellness Assessment, an innovative screening tool to help identify individuals at risk for hereditary cancers. The Genetic Wellness Assessment is now available for adults interested…
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Just a moment… This request seems a bit unusual, so we need to confirm that you’re human. Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green. Thank you for your cooperation!
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‘Burning Down the House’ Review: Talking About Talking Heads
To make a music scene you need four things: cheap housing, recent art-school graduates, a stage where anyone can play and a small clique of young critics eager to discover a new subculture. As Jonathan Gould makes clear in “Burning Down the…
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Harvard-led study reveals key to healthy aging
When it comes to carbohydrates, not all are created equal.
Some carbohydrates are refined, which are quickly digested. These are called low-quality carbs that increase the risk of chronic diseases by spiking blood sugar. White bread, white rice,…
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DuPont™ IntegraTec™ XTP 100 IG Ultrafiltration Modules Now Available Globally
WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 9 – DuPont today announced that DuPont™ IntegraTec™ XTP 100 IG ultrafiltration modules are now available globally. A groundbreaking solution powered by innovative PVDF hollow fiber technology, designed specifically for industrial applications, these modules present a significant advancement in process and wastewater management.
DuPont™ IntegraTec™ XTP 100 IG modules offer substantial capital and operational expenditure savings compared to prior generations, making them a cost-effective solution for both new installations and replacements. Their spatial efficiency within an equivalent form factor approach stands as a testament to their advanced design, allowing for easier integration into existing systems while also reducing the footprint typically associated with traditional ultrafiltration plants.
“With the IntegraTec™ XTP 100 IG modules, DuPont is redefining what’s possible in industrial utility and wastewater treatment and reuse.” said Karla Butler, Global Vice President and General Manager, DuPont Water Solutions. “This innovation delivers up to 30% more flow per module and enables a simplified plant design—empowering engineering firms and end users to achieve greater efficiency with lower capital and operating costs.”
These modules are built for adaptability, enabling them to perform effectively under a variety of operational conditions, including low backwash flux and alternative cleaning methods. Their robust construction ensures long-term durability, maintaining stable operation even in challenging water environments characterized by high turbidity or COD levels.
DuPont™ IntegraTec™ XTP 100 IG ultrafiltration modules not only simplify the design and maintenance requirements compared to previous generations and competitive offerings but also set a new standard in reliability and performance for industrial water treatment applications.
About DuPont Water Solutions
DuPont Water Solutions’ technologies are helping to purify more than 50 million gallons of water every minute in 112 countries across the world. DuPont offers market-leading technologies to address a variety of challenges faced by water treatment municipalities, seawater desalination plants, and industrial water users, including the microelectronics industry, through a broad portfolio of membranes, resins and complete systems. The team is innovating solutions that can help balance the world’s growing water and energy demands, with products that help maximize the availability of electricity, lithium and green hydrogen. The business also supports the life sciences industry with solutions for drug development, crop-to-table processing, protein-rich diets, and innovative healthcare.About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.
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