Posted: December 1, 2023 4:58 AM Updated: December 1, 2023 5:10 AM
Correction and fact check date: December 1, 2023, 4:58 AM
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Microsoft plans to invest 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) in the UK over the next three years to support the country’s AI development.
Microsoft plans to invest 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) in the UK over the next three years, marking its largest single investment in the country to date, a move that the UK government has confirmed will help fuel the future growth of AI. We are ready to back you up.
In the face of weak prospects for the UK economy going forward, there is growing momentum for private investment to support new infrastructure, particularly in growth industries such as AI.
The significant funding was first revealed at a summit led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Monday and will see Microsoft more than double the size of its data centers in the UK, according to various media reports. This expansion is considered critical to providing the necessary infrastructure for the effective functioning of new AI models.
“This announcement marks a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK,” Sunak said in a statement released on Thursday.
As reported by Reuters, Microsoft’s commitment to this significant investment comes despite comments made by President Brad Smith in April. At the time, Smith expressed concern that the antitrust regulator’s decision against Microsoft could jeopardize the tech industry’s confidence in the UK.
However, British regulators later approved a restructured version of Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, swinging the UK back in favor of Microsoft.
In a statement issued during Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt’s visit to a data center under construction in north London, Smith reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to ensuring the UK has the world’s best AI infrastructure.
As part of this major investment, Microsoft will introduce more than 20,000 state-of-the-art graphics processing units to the UK.
These technology components are critical to machine learning and AI development, as explained in the government statement. The investment also includes a training initiative aimed at equipping Britons with the skills they need to build and use AI.
The UK government’s steps towards AI
Last month, the UK government hosted the world’s first AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, where 28 countries and the European Union approved the ‘Bletchley Declaration’, a document expressing their collective commitment to cooperate on AI safety.
This was intended to lay the foundation for international cooperation on AI safety and research and to highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the development of cutting-edge AI technologies.
The goal is to deliberate and plan a path toward responsible and safe AI deployment. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the ‘Bletchley Declaration’ as a landmark achievement, expressing global consensus on the urgency of understanding AI risks.
In another development, the UK government announced an investment of £225 million in partnership with the University of Bristol and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to create Isambard-AI, the UK’s most powerful AI supercomputer.
According to the announcement, this is part of a wider £300 million plan aimed at building a national Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (AIRR) that will position the UK as a global leader in AI.
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Kumar is an experienced technology journalist specializing in the dynamic intersection of emerging fields including AI/ML, marketing technology, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and NFTs. With over three years of experience in the industry, Kumar has established a proven track record in crafting compelling narratives, conducting insightful interviews, and providing comprehensive insights. Kumar’s specialty is producing high-impact content including articles, reports and research publications for prominent industry platforms. With a unique skill at combining technical knowledge and storytelling, Kumar excels at communicating complex technical concepts in a clear and engaging way to diverse audiences.
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Kumar is an experienced technology journalist specializing in the dynamic intersection of emerging fields including AI/ML, marketing technology, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and NFTs. With over three years of experience in the industry, Kumar has established a proven track record in crafting compelling narratives, conducting insightful interviews, and providing comprehensive insights. Kumar’s expertise lies in producing impactful content, including articles, reports and research publications for prominent industry platforms. With a unique skill at combining technical knowledge and storytelling, Kumar excels at communicating complex technical concepts in a clear and engaging way to diverse audiences.