Britain Aims to Build a Homegrown AI Rival to OpenAI

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The U.K. government has announced ambitious plans to create a homegrown challenger to OpenAI and drastically expand the country’s computing infrastructure. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will outline the new initiatives during a visit to Bristol, emphasizing Britain’s bid to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Key to the plan is a twentyfold increase in sovereign computing capacity by 2030, driven by the expansion of public-sector data centers and the launch of an AI Research Resource initiative. The government will also establish AI growth zones, relaxing planning rules to enable faster development of data centers. The initiatives build on recommendations from Matt Clifford, a prominent tech investor tasked with creating an “AI Opportunities Action Plan.”

The government is also setting its sights on developing foundational AI models — akin to OpenAI’s ChatGPT — that can be built and maintained within the U.K. This effort will be supported by the creation of a National Data Library to connect public institutions such as universities. However, challenges remain, with startup founders highlighting limited access to funding compared to U.S. counterparts.

Industry leaders have broadly welcomed the plan. Zahra Bahrololoumi, U.K. head of Salesforce, called it a “bold vision for AI,” while Cisco’s Chintan Patel said a clear roadmap was essential for making Britain an AI superpower. The U.K. government also aims to introduce AI regulations in a way that diverges from the EU’s more rigid framework, pitching Britain as a more flexible and innovation-friendly destination.

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