UK unveils £14B AI infrastructure plan

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The UK government has unveiled a major plan to become a leader in AI, focusing on building the infrastructure needed to support AI development. The plan includes creating "AI growth zones" around the country. These zones will make it easier to set up data centers and connect them to power grids, which is essential for running AI systems.



Private companies are already backing the plan. Data center startup Nscale has pledged €2.3 billion to improve the UK's data center infrastructure over the next three years. US-based Vantage Data Centres is investing about €14 billion in similar projects across the UK.

The first AI growth zone will be in Culham, Oxfordshire. The government also plans to build a new supercomputer and create a National Data Library to help AI development by providing access to public data. Specialized teams will also be set up in government departments to work on AI solutions.

This strategy is a big step in improving the relationship between the UK government and the tech sector, which has faced challenges recently. Success will depend on how well the plan is carried out and if the government continues to support the tech industry.

Peter Kyle, the UK's Secretary for Science, Innovation, and Technology, emphasized that the government is committed to making sure the UK doesn't fall behind in the global AI race, with benefits reaching everyone across the country.