The co-creator of the UK’s AI Safety Institute has left the civil service after two years of supporting government tech policy.
Nitarshan Rajkumar was one of the founding members of the AI Safety Institute when it was established in 2023 under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Rajkumar, who has been a policy advisor to the tech department and its predecessor for two years, was a leading figure behind the AI Safety Summit. He has been credited with advancing the UK’s AI capacity over the last year and a half.
The AI expert announced his departure from the Institute on Monday via the social media platform X.
“I’ve left the UK civil service, after two years spent creating the AI Safety Institute, AI Safety Summit, AI Research Resource, and more. It was an honour and a privilege,” Rajkumar wrote.
“There’s lots left to do, and I’ll continue to work on advancing global progress in AI. Onwards and upwards.”
Reacting to Rajkumar’s announcement, Matt Clifford – co-founder of Entrepreneur First and the prime minister’s representative for the AI Safety Summit – said: “Few people deserve more credit than Nitarshan for the UK’s enormous strides in state capacity in AI over the last 18 months: an incredibly capable and dedicated civil servant.”
Ian Hogarth, chair of the AI Safety Institute, said: “Nitarshan did an extraordinary amount to make the AI Safety Institute happen and shows what an earnest, incredibly hardworking technical expert can accomplish when they commit to public service. Thank you.”
UKTN has contacted Rajkumar for further comment.