Two AI powerhouses are close to finalizing a massive infrastructure investment in the UK that could be worth billions. Nvidia and OpenAI are in advanced discussions to back data center development across Britain, with the deal expected to be unveiled during President Trump's state visit next week. The move signals a new phase in the global race for AI sovereignty as countries scramble to reduce dependency on foreign tech infrastructure.
Nvidia and OpenAI are racing to finalize what could be one of the largest AI infrastructure investments in European history. The two companies are in advanced talks to back a multi-billion dollar data center development program across the UK, according to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to CNBC.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. The investment announcement is expected to coincide with President Trump's state visit to Britain next week, where Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will join the presidential delegation. This high-profile diplomatic setting suggests the deal carries significant geopolitical weight beyond its commercial implications.
While neither company has finalized terms, the partnership includes cloud computing firm Nscale and represents a major bet on the UK's emerging position as an AI hub. "The companies are still working through various processes," a person familiar with the matter told CNBC, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations.
The investment reflects a broader global scramble as nations compete to secure what's being called "sovereign AI" - the ability to process advanced artificial intelligence workloads domestically rather than relying on foreign infrastructure. Countries from the UAE to Singapore have been aggressively courting US AI giants, offering everything from tax incentives to regulatory fast-tracking.
For the UK, landing Nvidia and OpenAI represents a significant diplomatic and economic victory. Earlier this year, Huang called Britain an "incredible place to invest" during a panel with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing the country as being in a "Goldilocks circumstance" - positioned perfectly between regulatory sophistication and innovation flexibility.
The data center component is particularly crucial. Modern AI systems require massive computational infrastructure, with training runs for large language models consuming enough electricity to power small cities. By backing UK-based facilities, Nvidia and OpenAI would help Britain reduce its dependency on foreign cloud providers while potentially creating thousands of high-tech jobs.
