There are reports in the media that Dr Williams is planning to resign from his role as Archbishop and take up a post in academia.
Retirement next year would come well before he is due to retire. The Archbishop does not need to step down for another nine years, until he reaches 70, the retirement age for the post.
A spokesman for the Archbishop refused to confirm reports in the media.
He said: "Obviously the Archbishop has been in the role for a number of years so there is a lot of speculation around but there is no statement from us, we are not commenting on it."
Dr Williams has been Archbishop of Canterbury since 2003 and spent much of his time trying to hold the Anglican Communion together in the face of deep rifts over homosexuality and women bishops.
Possible successors include the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres.