Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella declared the American tech powerhouse is "doubling down" on its UK commitments, unveiling a staggering $30 billion investment over four years to supercharge artificial intelligence infrastructure, coinciding with President Donald Trump's high-profile state visit that kicked off with the inking of a transformative US-UK Tech Prosperity Deal.
The landmark agreement, focusing on pioneering advancements in AI, quantum computing, and nuclear energy, was announced as Trump settled into the opulent Winfield House, the US ambassador's residence in central London, following an overnight stay before his grand royal reception at Windsor Castle. Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared a pre-visit phone call, setting the stage for Thursday's in-depth bilateral discussions.
"We're committed to creating new opportunity for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, and to ensuring America remains a trusted and reliable tech partner for the United Kingdom," Nadella, the Indian-origin tech visionary, stated. "That is why we are doubling down on our investment in the UK, investing more than 30 billion dollars over four years, including building the country’s largest supercomputer."
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Joining Microsoft's pledge, a consortium of US heavyweights—NVIDIA, Google, OpenAI, and CoreWeave—has collectively committed £31 billion ($42 billion) to fortify the UK's AI ecosystem, spanning data centers, semiconductors, and cutting-edge computing power. Starmer hailed the pact as a "generational step change" in US-UK relations, promising to reshape lives across the Atlantic through enhanced growth, security, and job creation. "By teaming up with world-class companies from both the UK and US, we’re laying the foundations for a future where together we are world leaders in the technology of tomorrow, creating highly skilled jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets and ensuring this partnership benefits every corner of the United Kingdom," he emphasized.
Key beneficiaries include groundbreaking AI applications for combating cancer and rare diseases, alongside collaborative pushes in fusion energy. UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall described it as "a vote of confidence in Britain’s booming AI sector—building on British success stories such as Arm, Wayve and Google Deepmind—that will boost growth and deliver tens of thousands of skilled jobs."
A highlight is the establishment of a new AI Growth Zone in the North East, hosting the initial rollout of OpenAI's ambitious Stargate UK project at Cobalt Park. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the UK's AI heritage: "The UK has been a longstanding pioneer of AI, and is now home to world-class researchers, millions of ChatGPT users, and a government that quickly recognised the potential of this technology. Stargate UK builds on this foundation to help accelerate scientific breakthroughs, improve productivity, and drive economic growth. This partnership reflects our shared vision that with the right infrastructure in place, AI can expand opportunity for people and businesses across the UK."
As the deals unfold, King Charles III will extend full royal splendor to Trump at Windsor Castle, featuring a gilded carriage procession, a guard of honour, and an extravagant State Banquet. The meticulously orchestrated itinerary aims to dazzle the US leader, sidestepping anticipated street protests in London and Windsor.
Tensions simmered pre-visit when four men, aged 36 to 60, were detained Tuesday night after projecting images of Trump alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle's walls. "We take any unauthorised activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously. Our officers responded swiftly to stop the projection and four people have been arrested," Thames Valley Police confirmed, underscoring the visit's tight security amid geopolitical sensitivities.
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