By Amber Hickman |
Microsoft is investing $30 billion in the UK’s AI infrastructure over the course of the next four years.
The investment includes $15 billion in capital expenditures to build out the UK’s cloud and AI infrastructure, allowing Microsoft to build the country’s largest supercomputer – with more than 23,000 Nvidia GPS s – in partnership with Nscale.
“Microsoft’s landmark investment is a powerful vote of confidence in UK’s leadership in AI and cutting-edge technology,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This commitment will not only strengthen our digital infrastructure and support thousands of highly skilled jobs, but also ensure Britain remains at the forefront of global innovation as we deliver on our Plan for Change.”
The capital investment will also expand Microsoft's datacentre footprint to meet growing AI demand and adoption from customers in different sectors, including Barclays, the NHS, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and the Premier League.
Barclay’s, for instance, is currently rolling out Copilot to 100,000 colleagues and integrating it into its own tools to unlock insights and efficiency, while developers at LSEG are using GitHub Copilot and Windows 365 to dramatically accelerate secure, trusted application development.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussing the investment
The other half of Microsoft’s investment will support ongoing operation across the UK. This includes Microsoft’s workforce of 6,000 employees, located across multiple cities.
“As we move forward, we’re encouraged by Prime Minister Starmer’s focus on growing the UK economy,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president at Microsoft in an online blog post. “Our ability to make an investment of this size is based in no small measure on the work the government is doing to reform planning, grow electricity capacity and foster a more stable and open regulatory environment.
“For AI to fully realise its potential, businesses need clarity and predictability in how they can deploy their investments, and people need confidence that these technologies are being developed and deployed responsibly, not just to build trust, but to ensure that those creating and investing in AI have the confidence to continue to do so.”