The United Kingdom has signed a strategic partnership with OpenAI to expand cooperation on artificial intelligence security research and explore investments in British AI infrastructure, including data centers.
The agreement could lead to OpenAI increasing its presence in London and working with the government on using AI in areas such as justice, defence, national security, and education technology.
The British government said Monday that the partnership is part of a broader plan to grow the country’s AI capabilities. It has pledged to invest £1 billion to expand computing infrastructure, aiming to raise public compute capacity by 20 times over the next five years.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said AI would be key to improving services like the National Health Service, boosting the economy, and creating more opportunities. He said the partnership with OpenAI would allow more of the company’s work to take place in the UK.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the UK for being the first country to recognize the potential of AI through its “AI Opportunities Action Plan.” The plan, backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aims to position the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence.
The Labour government has said AI could raise productivity by 1.5 percent a year, adding £47 billion annually to the economy over the next 10 years.
The new deal comes as countries including the United States, China, and India lead in AI development, pushing Europe to strengthen its role in the sector.
