Matt Clifford, artificial intelligence adviser to Sir Keir Starmer, is stepping down from his role after six months for family reasons, Downing Street has confirmed.
Clifford, who led development of the government’s AI opportunities action plan, will leave his position at the end of July.
He is understood to have a good relationship with Number 10 and may return to support government efforts in future.
Appointed in January 2025, Clifford was tasked with shaping policy to grow the UK’s AI sector, support uptake across industries, and attract global talent and entrepreneurs.
A government spokesperson told Sky News: “Matt Clifford is stepping down from his role as the prime minister’s AI opportunities advisor for personal reasons.
“The prime minister has thanked him for his dedicated work to deliver and implement the AI opportunities action plan.
“We will be building on this work to bolster AI expertise across government and cement the UK’s position as a world leader in AI.”
Clifford said: “It’s been a privilege to spend the last year first writing and then implementing the AI opportunities action plan.
“I’m grateful to the prime minister and the government for this opportunity to serve and am hugely optimistic about the UK’s potential to be an AI superpower.
For family reasons, I will step back from my role as the prime minister’s adviser on AI opportunities at the end of July, but I’m delighted that this important work will continue across government.
Clifford was the lead reviewer of the AI opportunities action plan, which included 50 recommendations — all of which were accepted by the prime minister.
He also sits on the advisory board of the AI Safety Institute.
Before joining the current administration, Clifford worked with the previous Conservative government on setting up the AI Safety Institute and organising the 2023 AI Safety Summit.
Sky News reports that Clifford’s decision to step down is not related to any policy disagreements and that he may return in an advisory capacity at a later stage.
His departure comes as the UK continues efforts to position itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence and compete internationally for talent and investment.
