Meet London businessman Matt Clifford.
Keir Starmer wants AI at the heart of government. This week, the Prime Minister unveiled plans to digitize the UK civil service using AI, claiming it could save up to £45 billion.
Oh, and the man in charge? His name is Matt Clifford.
https://sifted.eu/articles/matt-clifford-to-oversee-ai-revolution-news
But while the government boasts about its ambitions, it has been less forthcoming about the business interests of the architect behind its flagship AI policy.
Entrepreneur First, the investment firm Clifford co-founded and co-owns, holds stakes in 449 tech companies. He also has dozens more holdings in his own name. Despite his central role in shaping AI policy, these financial ties were not publicly disclosed.
Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information reveal Matt Clifford has stakes in at least 8 companies involved in the Startup Coalition—an influential industry group funded by big tech.
The Startup Coalition has lobbied in favour of the UK government’s controversial plan to exempt AI firms from copyright law. This proposal is opposed by artists and the media
https://pressgazette.co.uk/media_business/copyright-ai-ft-right-wrong-opt-out-exemption/
Labour ministers have met with the group to discuss AI regulation and copyright issues once a month, on average, records show. The Startup Coalition also receives funding from Google, which stands to benefit from AI copyright exemptions.
Professor Gina Neff, director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at Cambridge University, told Democracy for Sale that government should talk to a wider circle of experts.
“There are many in civil society who are frustrated at the lack of access to tech policymaking in government. The UK has incredible expertise in AI, and we want to see that diversity reflected in decision-making.”
Matt Clifford helped establish the UK’s AI Safety Institute—recently rebranded the AI Security Institute, reportedly to align with the Trump White House’s AI approach. He is widely regarded as a respected expert in the field. Starmer accepted all 50 recommendations from his AI plan, published in January.
However, some in the tech and media sectors are uneasy about his influence.
“Of course, you want entrepreneurs involved” one industry source told Democracy for Sale. “But you don’t give one man—who runs the firm with the most AI investments in Europe—the job of writing the policy, then accept all his recommendations the same day he publishes his plan.”
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Matt Clifford have yet to respond to requests for comment.