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[ARTICLE · art-118982] src=thestack.technology ↗ pub= topic=ai-policy verified=true sentiment=· neutral

UK's ARIA chair and former AI tsar joins Anthropic

Matt Clifford, architect of the UK government's AI action plan and former AI tsar, has joined Anthropic as Managing Director for International Affairs, where he will lead work with governments outside North America. Clifford will report to Chief Global Affairs Officer Tino Cuéllar as part of a 70-strong policy and global affairs team, while remaining chair of the UK's R&D funding agency ARIA, a decision that has attracted scrutiny.

read1 min views1 publishedSep 2, 2026
UK's ARIA chair and former AI tsar joins Anthropic
Image: Thestack (auto-discovered)

The architect of the UK government’s AI action plan, Matt Clifford, is joining Anthropic, but his decision to remain chair of the R&D funding agency ARIA has attracted scrutiny.

Clifford, who stepped down as the PM’s AI Advisor last year, said he had taken the position of MD for International Affairs at the AI developer to lead its work with governments outside North America.

Posting online, he said: “It's clear that the decisions that will shape AI's impact shouldn't be made by any one actor… People everywhere want real agency over how this technology is built and used in their societies, and they should have it. Anthropic takes that seriously.”

Anthropic told The Stack Clifford will report to new Chief Global Affairs Officer Tino Cuéllar as part of a 70-strong policy and global affairs team, to “make sure Anthropic maintains productive relationships with governments in every region.”

Clifford’s CV

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