Anthropic Hires UK AI Policy Architect Matt Clifford While He Keeps ARIA Chair Role

Anthropic says it needs government expertise in every market. It has hired Matt Clifford, a former architect of UK AI policy, to lead international affairs while he remains chair of the government-backed Advanced Research and Invention Agency, or ARIA.

Clifford will lead Anthropic’s engagement with governments in the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific and India. He previously served as Keir Starmer’s AI opportunities adviser and drafted the UK government’s AI action plan.

He also helped create the organization that later became the UK AI Security Institute. Anthropic said the UK is one of dozens of governments Clifford’s team will engage with, and said such government engagement is required across its markets.

Clifford will remain ARIA chair. The agency is an independent public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; its board oversees performance, strategic direction, risk management and internal controls. Its 2025–26 annual report records Clifford’s September 2025 reappointment and says ARIA had committed more than £500 million across its programmes.

It is understood that Clifford will step back from ARIA matters involving Anthropic. The arrangement has been described as an expected step-back, rather than a publicly detailed policy.

Clifford will also remain chair of Entrepreneurs First, the technology venture capital firm he co-founded. The appointment has therefore brought concerns from UK campaigners and lawmakers about the revolving door between government and the AI industry.