Britain ranks among the top countries for private AI investments over the past decade
[LONDON] Microsoft announced on Tuesday (Sep 16) a US$30 billion investment in the UK over four years, as US President Donald Trump landed in Britain for a landmark second state visit.
“We are committed to creating new opportunity for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said.
“That’s why today we announced a US$30 billion investment in the UK over four years, including building the country’s largest supercomputer.”
Microsoft added that the investment “includes US$15 billion in capital expenditures to build out the UK’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure”.
Trump will be accompanied by a number of US tech CEOs when he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country residence on Thursday.
The embattled UK government, which is struggling to reboot the ailing economy, is hoping to seal a slew of deals during the visit on Wednesday and Thursday.
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The tech investments come despite tensions between the Trump administration and Britain over London’s digital tax.
Trump has threatened new tariffs on companies seen as targeting US tech firms.
Britain ranks among the top countries for private AI investments over the past decade, despite lagging far behind China and the United States, according to Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index report.
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Google on Tuesday said that it was investing £5 billion (S$8.7 billion) in the UK over the next two years to power the country’s AI drive.
Microsoft employs 6,000 people in the UK, where it runs several data centres, as well as IA research laboratories, as well as video game studios, Nadella said.
“Later this week, we will announce new data centre investments in the United States too,” he added. AFP
