UK Government Signs Strategic Partnership with OpenAI, Sparking Debate on AI's Role in Public Services

UK swoons over OpenAI in legally meaningless love-in

Credulous minister claims MoU - not contract - with chatbot biz could help 'fix NHS' and 'drive economic growth' The UK's Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is jumping into bed with chatbot biz OpenAI, signing a memorandum of understanding to expand OpenAI's footprint in the nation while inserting its tech firmly into the public sector. The MoU falls far short of a signed-and-sealed contract. "This memorandum is voluntary," the document reads, "not legally binding, and without prejudice to any binding agreements," and "does not prejudice against future procurement decisions" - and no mention has been made of money changing hands, in either direction, at this stage. Despite this, the British government is positioning the agreement as a big win for its plans to build the UK into an artificial intelligence powerhouse. Under the MoU, it is claimed OpenAI will work with DSIT to identify where "advanced AI models" can be deployed in both public and private sectors, to "improve understanding of [AI] capabilities and security risks" in work that builds on an existing partnership with OpenAI and the UK AI Security Institute, and has the potential for OpenAI to participate in planned "AI Growth Zones" in addition to expanding the company's footprint in the UK. "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity, or driving economic growth," trilled technology secretary Peter Kyle. "That's why we need to make sure Britain is front and center when it comes to developing and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward." "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth," claimed OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman in a statement. "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognize the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan. Now it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." The government has been sniffing around the use of AI for some time, even prior to the publication of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, going so far as to predict that machine learning and technology implementations will mean zero impact from a 10 percent budget cut across major departments. At the same time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged £1 billion (about $1.3 billion) to "scale up [the UK's] compute power by a factor of 20," not including an additional £750 million (just over $1 billion) to resurrect scrapped plans for a supercomputer in Edinburgh. Despite doubts over whether the government can deliver on its vision, ministers have their eye on using AI technologies to do everything from accelerate planning permission applications to flagging suspicious MOT test centers. It's even planning to put the technology to work as a digital public servant, unironically named Humphrey after the star of British political satire Yes, Minister. Planning regulations are to be loosened to create "AI Growth Zones," public-facing roles are to be supplemented - or replaced - by chatbots, kids' schoolwork marked and graded by machine, and there are even concerning rumblings regarding a Minority Report-like "murder prediction tool." This all comes less than two years after then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak opened the global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, historical home to the Second World War codebreakers working at "Station X" - and Alan Turing, the polymath best known in AI circles for his eponymous test for determining whether a correspondent was a human or a machine. Where the European Union is legislating for more control over AI technology, with limited success, the UK appears to be going the opposite way - as this latest deal with a company criticized for mass use of copyrighted content in model training would indicate. Some experts, however, aren't as convinced as the government that such technologies will deliver the promised national growth. Wayne Holmes, professor of critical studies of artificial intelligence and education at University College London's Knowledge Lab, doesn't mince his words on the topic. "Policymakers and idiots around the world are just getting sucked into this hype-fest, believing the nonsense that these people are saying, that this is going to sort everything, can help solve all the problems of the world, and cancer is going to be solved in three weeks, poverty in five weeks," he told The Register. "It's just utter, utter drivel and neoliberal nonsense. OpenAI and others like it - terrible, terrible companies, and to invest or to have a memorandum of understanding with them is just crazy. OpenAI is an incredibly unstable company that could collapse at any time. They are just working really hard to enhance their immediate value. And then clearly this memorandum is going to help them in that project, because they're just interested in making as much money as quickly as they can, because, in my opinion, they know that they're hitting a brick wall. "The technology itself that OpenAI lead on, or have their dominant position on, GenAI, ChatGPT, LLMs, all that is fundamentally flawed." "It's never going to be really improved any time soon. And they talk about the 'agentic' ways of approaching it. And this is the kind of thing [where] they're just not doing what they claim it's doing. Are these tools fun to play with? Absolutely. Do they do silly and interesting things? Yes, they do. Do they do anything that I personally would trust? Not in a million years. So the idea that our government is going to trust it is just absurd." As for what the government should be doing, Holmes recommends a very different approach. "Number one," he said, "make damn sure that people actually understand what they're talking about. And clearly government and ministers do not. Number two, we need robust regulation about these technologies. We need that regulation in place, and it needs to be proactive regulation, regulation that recognizes that these tools are changing in terms of their application." Dr. Dan Nicolau, director of the King's College London AI for Science Programme, told us this non-binding agreement by UK government follows other "similar delas" with Anthropic and Google. "So this MoU should be seen as an early and exploratory part of this much larger plan to make AI central to life in the United Kingdom in the coming decades, basically. "I don't know and I don't think anyone does know whether this is the right plan. But it is a bet that the many issues with the AI developed by these big US firms, such as hallucinations, biases, privacy, copyright and unexplainability, will be resolved well enough and fast enough for the technology to be transformative, for instance in the public sector." El Reg asked OpenAI for responses to specific questions but it directed us to a blog instead. A DSIT representative had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication. ®

OpenAI and UK sign new AI agreement to boost security, infrastructure

July 21 (Reuters) - The UK government said it signed a strategic partnership with OpenAI on Monday, with plans to expand AI security research collaborations and explore investing in AI infrastructure such as data centres. The Microsoft-backed (MSFT.O), opens new tab AI startup will also expand its London office, building up its research and engineering teams at OpenAI's first international location opened two years ago, according to a statement. As part of the agreement, OpenAI will share technical information with the UK AI Security Institute to deepen the government's knowledge of AI capabilities and security risks. "The partnership will explore where it can deploy AI in areas such as justice, defence and security, and education technology in line with UK standards and guidelines to demonstrate the opportunity to make taxpayer funded services more efficient and effective," the statement said. Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

UK and ChatGPT maker OpenAI sign new strategic partnership

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Britain and ChatGPT maker OpenAI have signed a new strategic partnership to deepen collaboration on AI security research and explore investing in British AI infrastructure, such as data centres, the government said on Monday. "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS (National Health Service), breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth," Peter Kyle, secretary of state for technology, said in a statement. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK." The government has set out plans to invest 1 billion pounds in computing infrastructure for AI development, hoping to increase public compute capacity 20 fold over the next five years. The United States, China and India are emerging as front runners in the race to develop AI, putting pressure on Europe to catch up. The partnership with OpenAI, whose tie-up with Microsoft once drew the scrutiny of Britain's competition regulator, will see the company possibly increase the size of its London office, and explore where it can deploy AI in areas such as justice, defence, security and education technology. In the same statement, OpenAI head Sam Altman praised the government for being the first to recognise the technology's potential through its "AI Opportunities Action Plan" - an initiative by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to turn the UK into an artificial intelligence superpower. The Labour government, which has struggled to increase economic growth meaningfully in its first year in power and has since fallen behind in polls, has said that the technology could increase productivity by 1.5% a year, worth an extra 47 billion pounds ($63.37 billion) annually over a decade. ($1 = 0.7417 pounds) Reporting by Muvija M in London and Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona and Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

OpenAI is getting closer with the UK government

The UK government has announced a new strategic partnership with OpenAI that could lead the company to "expand AI security research collaborations, explore investing in UK AI infrastructure like data centers, and find new ways for taxpayer funded services" to use AI. The move follows the introduction of the AI Action Plan in January, which fast-tracks the construction of data centers in certain regions of the UK. In the (entirely voluntary) partnership agreement -- technically a Memorandum of Understanding -- OpenAI and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) agree to tackle positive-sounding, but ultimately vague tasks things like finding ways for "advanced AI models" to be used in both the public and private sectors and sharing information around the security risks of AI. OpenAI is also supposed to help DSIT identify ways it can deliver on the infrastructure goals of the AI Action Plan, and possibly explore building in one of the UK's new data center-friendly "AI Growth Zones." All of this sounds nebulous and non-committal because the memorandum OpenAI signed is not at all legally-binding. The partnership sounds nice for elected officials eager to prove the UK is competing in AI, but it doesn't tie anyone down, including the UK government: If Anthropic offers a deal on Claude, they can take it. OpenAI already has offices in London, so deepening its investment doesn't seem out of the question. Signing the memorandum is also consistent with OpenAI's growing interest in working with governments desperate for the high-tech gloss of the AI industry. The logic follows that if OpenAI can get regulators dependent on its tools -- say, a ChatGPT Gov specifically designed for government agencies -- they'll be more inclined to favor the company in policy decisions. Or at the very least, making a show of collaborating early could win the company a sweeter deal down the road.

OpenAI and UK sign deal to use AI in public services

OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT, has signed a deal to use artificial intelligence to increase productivity in the UK's public services, the government has announced. The agreement signed by the firm and the science department could give OpenAI access to government data and see its software used in education, defence, security, and the justice system. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said that "AI will be fundamental in driving change" in the UK and "driving economic growth". The Labour government's eager adoption of AI has previously been criticised by campaigners, such as musicians' who oppose its unlicensed use of their music.

OpenAI signs deal with UK to find government uses for its models

Wide-ranging agreement with artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT comes after similar UK deal with Google Sam Altman, leader of one of the world's biggest artificial intelligence companies, has signed a deal with the British government to explore the deployment of advanced AI models in areas including justice, security and education. The chief executive of OpenAI, which has been valued at $300bn and provides the ChatGPT suite of large language models, agreed the memorandum of understanding with the science and technology secretary, Peter Kyle, on Monday. It follows a similarly wide-ranging deal between the UK government and OpenAI's rival US tech company, Google, which campaigners called "dangerously naive", citing fears that the arrangement could leave the public sector dependent on private technology providers and make it harder for politicians to regulate them. The latest agreement states that OpenAI and the government "will collaborate to identify opportunities for how advanced AI models can be deployed throughout government", including "to help civil servants work more efficiently" and to support "citizens to navigate public services more effectively". It said they will collaborate to develop AI solutions "to the UK's hardest problems, including in areas such as justice, defence and security, and education technology" and develop partnerships "to expand public engagement with AI technology". Altman has previously predicted that AI laboratories will this year reach a level of performance that is known as artificial general intelligence, equivalent to human level intelligence at a range of tasks. At the same time, the British public is divided over the risks and rewards of the fast-developing technology. A survey by Ipsos found that 31% are mostly excited about the possibilities, but somewhat concerned about the risks. Another 30% are mostly concerned about the risks, but somewhat excited about the possibilities. Kyle said: "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth." He said this "can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI" and added that the partnership would give Britain "agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward". Altman said: "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI opportunities action plan. Now, it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." Open AI is to expand its operation in the UK beyond the more than 100 staff it currently has. As part of the Google deal announced earlier this month, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said that Google DeepMind - the tech company's AI division, led by the Nobel prize-winning scientist Demis Hassabis - would "collaborate with technical experts in government to support them in deploying and diffusing new emerging technologies, driving efficiencies across the public sector, including accelerating scientific discovery". OpenAI has already provided its technology to power an AI chatbot intended to allow small businesses to more easily get advice and support from government webpages. Its technology also underpins some of the tools in "Humphrey", Whitehall's AI assistant that aims to speed up the civil service.

OpenAI signs wide-ranging deal with the UK government - with AI coming to more of our everyday lives

GPT already powers Humphrey and Consult services, with more to come OpenAI and the UK Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of a plan to "maintain a world-leading UK AI ecosystem rooted in democratic values." The deal will see OpenAI explore investments in UK AI infrastructure, including data centers and so-called AI Growth Zones, which could level the playing ground across the UK with sites in Scotland and Wales. Through the Memorandum of Understanding, the UK Government hopes to deploy AI across justice, defence, education and public services to improve efficiency. OpenAI's technology already forms the basis of a number of UK Government tools, including the ChatGPT-enhanced Humphrey for civil service workers and the GPT 4o-enhanced Consult for policy making. UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle welcomed the collaboration with the world-leading AI company: "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth." "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman added. The UK has already pledged to invest "up to £500 million" to support sovereign AI, and has broader plans outlined in its AI Opportunities Action Plan which states the UK is the third-largest AI market globally behind the US and China. Looking ahead, AI Growth Zones will facilitate the construction and deployment of AI centers via priority access to sustainable energy sources and a combination of public and private partnerships. More broadly, OpenAI also plans to increase its presence in the UK by expanding its office footprint in London - its first international office.

UK government urged to offer more transparency over OpenAI deal

Select committee chair says public need to be reassured about the use of their data after 'major failures' in the past Ministers are facing calls for greater transparency about public data that may be shared with the US tech company OpenAI after the government signed a wide-ranging agreement with the $300m (£222m) company which critics compared to letting a fox into a henhouse. Chi Onwurah, the chair of the House of Commons select committee on science, innovation and technology, warned that Monday's sweeping memorandum of understanding between OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, and the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, was "very thin on detail" and called for guarantees that public data will remain in the UK and clarity about how much of it OpenAI will have access to. The deal paves the way for the Silicon Valley firm behind ChatGPT to explore deploying advanced AI technology in areas including justice, defence and security, and education. It includes OpenAI and the government "partnering to develop safeguards that protect the public and uphold democratic values". Kyle said he wants Britain to be "front and centre when it comes to developing and deploying AI" and "this can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI". But the deal has also led to concerns. Onwurah said: "We want assurance that there will be transparency over what public data OpenAI will have access to for training and that it will remain in the UK and within the UK's data protection framework and legislation. It's important for public trust that the government is more transparent about how this relationship will work. The public is certainly not convinced that the tech giants are on their side or that AI is on their side. They need to have confidence that the government is on their side." She cited "major failures" in public sector IT procurement including the Post Office Horizon scandal and said: "We hope and expect that the government has learned the lessons of previous failed technology procurement in its relationship with OpenAI and other AI companies it is bringing into the public sector." The department for science, innovation and technology has been approached for comment. The deal with OpenAI comes after an agreement this month with Google to provide free technology to the public sector from the NHS to local councils and to upskill tens of thousands of civil servants in technology, including AI. Other Silicon Valley companies already working in the UK public sector include Anduril, a US military technology company that provides AI-enabled "kill web" systems. It has been working with the British military. Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Palantir were among technology companies that attended a meeting last month with the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, at which ideas were suggested to insert tracking devices under offenders' skin and assign robots to contain prisoners. The latest agreement includes OpenAI's possible participation in the government's plan for "AI Growth Zones" which could see huge datacentres built around the UK. Altman said the agreement would enable the UK government to realise the potential of its AI policy by "turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all". But Martha Dark, the executive director of Foxglove, a campaign group for fairer technology, called the level of detail "hopelessly vague". "The British government has a treasure trove of public data that would be of enormous commercial value to OpenAI in helping to train the next incarnation of ChatGPT," she said. "This is yet more evidence of this government's credulous approach to Big Tech's increasingly dodgy sales pitch. Peter Kyle seems bizarrely determined to put the Big Tech fox in charge of the henhouse when it comes to UK sovereignty." Sameer Vuyyuru, the chief AI and product officer at Capita, another provider of AI services to the public sector, said there was now "a complete acknowledgment that AI plays a role in the future of public services". But he said there was a gap between their desire for the efficiency savings and understanding how best to procure AI services. "The public sector is viewed as one of the most fertile areas for the implementation of AI," he said, adding that fertility meant radically increased public sector efficiency as well as revenue growth for providers. He said AI agents would typically operate on, rather than take ownership of, public data. While AI use is now "miniscule", he said up to 50% of often "mind-numbing and menial" public service tasks could benefit from AI. This could mean cutting waiting times for renewing a driving licence, applying to join the army or applying for tuition subsidies by speeding up the number of cases a civil servant could process from 10 a day to 30 or even 50 with the assistance of an AI agent.

The UK government gets into bed with OpenAI as heroic professor decries 'policymakers and idiots around the world getting sucked into this hype-fest... terrible, terrible companies, just crazy'

The United Kingdom's Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) has signed a new "memorandum of understanding" with OpenAI, a non-binding document that will nevertheless see the unaccountable chatbot maker thrusting its technology into any area of the UK public sector that smells vaguely like money. Ain't life grand. For its part, the UK's Labour government says this is all part of its plans to build the country into an AI powerhouse: DSIT will work with OpenAI to identify areas where "advanced AI models" can be used, and the company will also somehow be involved in so-called "AI growth zones." "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country," says technology secretary Peter Kyle. "This partnership will see more of [OpenAI's] work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward." If this all sounds like largely meaningless verbiage, welcome to the wonderful crossover between politicians and the daft promises AI companies have been making for years. I don't see how this gives the UK any agency at all, beyond the freedom to pay Altman and his cronies eye-watering sums of public money for tech that doesn't do any of those things. "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth," said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a statement. "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognize the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan. Now it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." Oh please: AI is going to usher in prosperity for all?!? Altman just says what he likes, and the cash keeps rolling in. The UK government has already committed £1 billion to building more data centers in the country, as well as another £750 million for building a supercomputer in Edinburgh, but at least in those cases it's concrete infrastructure that definitely will result in jobs. Among the various pie-in-the-sky schemes are also some deeply concerning AI-based developments. In April the Guardian reported that the UK government is developing a "murder prediction" algorithm which it hopes can identify the members of the population most likely to become killers (the government unconvincingly claims this is merely a research project). That's as dystopian as it gets, but it already exists. Thankfully not everyone's convinced. A round of applause please for Wayne Holmes, a straight-talking professor from University College London's Knowledge Lab. "Policymakers and idiots around the world are just getting sucked into this hype-fest, believing the nonsense that these people are saying, that this is going to sort everything, can help solve all the problems of the world, and cancer is going to be solved in three weeks, poverty in five weeks," Holmes told The Register. "It's just utter, utter drivel and neoliberal nonsense. OpenAI and others like it -- terrible, terrible companies, and to invest or to have a memorandum of understanding with them is just crazy. OpenAI is an incredibly unstable company that could collapse at any time. They are just working really hard to enhance their immediate value. And then clearly this memorandum is going to help them in that project, because they're just interested in making as much money as quickly as they can, because, in my opinion, they know that they're hitting a brick wall." Tell us what you really think professor: and he does! Holmes says the technology itself is "fundamentally flawed" and is "never going to be really improved any time soon." "Are these tools fun to play with? Absolutely," says Holmes. "Do they do silly and interesting things? Yes, they do. Do they do anything that I personally would trust? Not in a million years. So the idea that our government is going to trust it is just absurd."

OpenAI and the UK form partnership to expand AI research, infrastructure

"AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS (National Health Service), breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth," Peter Kyle, secretary of state for technology, said in a statement. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK." The government has set out plans to invest 1 billion pounds in computing infrastructure for AI development, hoping to increase public compute capacity 20 fold over the next five years.

OpenAI to 'turbocharge' UK's AI infrastructure with government deal

The AI-driven platform also intends to increase the size of the London-based office amid a commitment to supporting the UK's businesses, developers and start-ups. Sam Altman's artificial intelligence organisation, OpenAI, has signed a strategic partnership deal with the UK government that aims to expand the region's AI endeavours. According to a release issued by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the strategy will research the expansion of the UK's AI security research collaborations, its AI infrastructure and how taxpayer funded services in areas such as security, education, justice and defence can best apply new technologies. The plan also explores the possible expansion of OpenAI's London-based office, which was the first to be established outside of the US and currently offers a location from which research and engineering teams can contribute to the development of AI models that support the UK's businesses, developers and start-ups. Additionally, under the partnership OpenAI will consider the infrastructure priorities laid out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which details the UK's ambitions around AI sovereignty and driving economic growth. This involves the development of AI Growth Zones, which would become "hotbeds for AI infrastructure". Commenting on the news, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, said, "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth. Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan. "Now, it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." The technology secretary Peter Kyle added, "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country, whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth. That's why we need to make sure Britain is front and centre when it comes to developing and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward." OpenAI recently launched a new agentic AI model that has brought significant safety concerns to the forefront, as it marks the first time that users can ask ChatGPT to take actions on the internet. Essentially, the agent is working directly with personal data accessed through websites you have logged into and is now capable of operating in 'takeover mode'. Additionally, due to its advanced capabilities, OpenAI regards the ChatGPT agent as having high biological and chemical capabilities under its Preparedness Framework⁠. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Tech giant OpenAI signs deal with government to boost efficiency in public services

The government says AI will be "fundamental" in driving change in areas such as the NHS, defence and education. OpenAI has signed a deal with the government to use artificial intelligence (AI) in an effort to increase department efficiency. The new partnership will involve the ChatGPT creator exploring how AI can be used in areas such as education, justice, defence and security to make them "more efficient and effective". They will also explore investing in British AI infrastructure, such as data centres. Politics latest: Tory big beast set for return as Badenoch reshuffles shadow cabinet Ministers want OpenAI to identify how advanced AI models could help improve services used by the public. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK." In an attempt to become a global AI hub, the government previously set out plans to invest £1 billion in infrastructure for AI development, with the plan to increase capacity 20-fold over the next five years. However, the creative industries have criticised their commitment to AI, which they say could be at the detriment of their jobs. Concerns around the amount of water needed to cool data centres and the amount of energy AI uses have also been raised as the government tries to tackle water shortages, pollution, and high energy bills. OpenAI, headed up by the American Sam Altman, also has plans to increase the size of its London office, which was the company's first international location two years ago. The government hopes the partnership will mean "world-changing" AI tech is developed in the UK. OpenAI will look to invest in and support AI "growth zones" across the UK, which will receive funding, the government said. Mr Altman said: "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth. "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its Government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan. "Now, it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." The civil service already uses ChatGPT in its AI assistant, "Humphrey", to speed up admin tasks.

The UK is now a key strategic partner for OpenAI

OpenAI and the UK government today signed a new strategic partnership in London, formalizing collaborative efforts to expand AI security research, explore infrastructure investment, and integrate AI into public services, building on OpenAI's establishment of its first international office in the UK two years ago. The strategic partnership between OpenAI and the UK government outlines plans for the AI laboratory to investigate investing in the UK's AI infrastructure, including data centers, and regional growth zones. This initiative aims to stimulate economic development through job creation and growth within communities. A key component of the partnership involves OpenAI sharing technical information with the UK AI Security Institute. This information exchange is designed to enhance the government's understanding of AI capabilities and potential security risks. The collaboration also supports the government's objective to leverage artificial intelligence for the transformation of taxpayer-funded public services. OpenAI has confirmed its intention to expand its presence in the United Kingdom. This expansion includes increasing the size of its London office and augmenting its research and engineering teams to fulfill the commitments of the partnership agreement. The London office, established two years ago as the company's first international location, currently houses research and engineering teams that contribute to the development of frontier AI models. This office also provides support to UK businesses, developers, and startups. The partnership specifically intends to explore the deployment of AI in various sectors, including justice, defense, security, and education technology. This deployment will adhere to established UK standards and guidelines, demonstrating the potential for AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public services funded by taxpayers. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, outlines the intent to build upon the UK's existing strengths in science, innovation, and talent. The document states a collective goal to "maintain a world-leading UK AI ecosystem rooted in democratic values." Under the terms of this partnership, OpenAI will also investigate potential avenues for implementing the infrastructure priorities detailed in the AI Opportunities Action Plan. This aspect recognizes the importance of UK sovereign capability in realizing the economic benefits associated with AI. This development could lead to the creation of advanced AI technologies within the UK, fostering discoveries that contribute to economic growth. The partnership expands to include the possibility of OpenAI investing in and supporting AI Growth Zones. These zones were initially announced in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which subsequently received £2 billion in funding through the Spending Review. AI Growth Zones are projected to become centers for AI infrastructure, attracting substantial investments. The UK government previously confirmed that Scotland and Wales would both host AI Growth Zones, as outlined in its Compute Strategy. This initiative aligns with the UK's investment of up to £500 million in sovereign AI, a fund designated for supporting national AI champions and fostering partnerships with global companies such as OpenAI. The partnership with OpenAI represents a crucial element of the UK's mission to remain an active participant in the development of frontier AI and to ensure that UK citizens benefit from the economic growth generated by cutting-edge models. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated, "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth. That's why we need to make sure Britain is front and centre when it comes to developing and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us." Kyle further elaborated, "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commented, "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth. Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan." Altman added, "Now, it's time to deliver on the plan's goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all." The AI laboratory may also collaborate with the government to identify how advanced AI models could enhance public services utilized by millions of individuals daily, thereby stimulating economic growth across the country. OpenAI's large language model, ChatGPT, already provides the underlying technology for multiple tools within 'Humphrey', Whitehall's AI assistant. 'Humphrey' aims to increase efficiency within the civil service by automating administrative tasks. For instance, GPT-4o powers 'Consult', a specialized tool designed to expedite the policy-making process. 'Consult' automates the sorting of public responses to consultations, a task that typically requires weeks for officials to complete, enabling it to be performed in minutes while retaining experts for critical decision-making. In addition to supporting the infrastructure plans outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, OpenAI may also explore the development of state-of-the-art, AI-enabled research and development infrastructure in the UK. This R&D infrastructure would focus on areas of strategic interest shared with the UK government. The Memorandum of Understanding is voluntary, not legally binding, and does not affect any existing binding agreements or future procurement decisions.

OpenAI Bets Big on Britain: Inside the Strategic Partnership Set to Transform the UK's AI Future

You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Just two years ago, OpenAI quietly opened its first international office in London. It was a subtle but significant move from the company behind ChatGPT -- widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the global AI race. Today, that early bet on Britain has evolved into a bold, transformative commitment. In a move that could reshape the UK's digital and economic landscape, OpenAI and the UK government have signed a landmark strategic partnership designed to turbocharge the nation's AI infrastructure, create jobs, and reimagine the future of public services. A Shared Vision, Signed and Sealed Signed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, the Memorandum of Understanding lays the foundation for a deep collaboration that touches everything from national infrastructure and public services to research and regional growth. At its core, the agreement is about one thing: turning AI potential into national progress. "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country -- whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity, or driving economic growth," said Secretary Kyle. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally." Reimagining Public Services with AI This isn't just a handshake between a tech giant and government -- it's a plan to operationalise AI at the heart of the public sector. OpenAI is already working behind the scenes in Whitehall. Its model, GPT-4o, powers 'Humphrey' -- a digital assistant helping civil servants speed up laborious admin tasks. Tools like 'Consult', for instance, use AI to automatically process thousands of public responses to policy consultations -- saving weeks of human time and allowing officials to focus on higher-level decisions. The new partnership will explore further deployments across justice, education, defence, and security -- using AI to modernise taxpayer-funded services without compromising democratic standards or ethical oversight. AI Growth Zones: Fueling Innovation Outside the Capital One of the most striking parts of the partnership is its focus on geography -- not just technology. OpenAI has committed to working with the UK government to explore investment in regional AI Growth Zones. These zones, backed by £2 billion in government funding, are designed to decentralise innovation by turning local communities into tech powerhouses. With over 200 bids submitted and Scotland and Wales already confirmed as hosts, the aim is to create clusters of AI development outside the traditional London orbit. For OpenAI, this presents an opportunity not just to grow its UK team -- but to shape the UK's AI ecosystem from the ground up. "AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth," said Sam Altman. "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership... now it's time to turn ambition into action and deliver prosperity for all." Sovereignty, Safety, and Shared Strategy The collaboration also has a critical research and safety dimension. OpenAI will work closely with the UK's AI Safety Institute, sharing technical insights to help the government better understand -- and responsibly manage -- the capabilities of frontier AI systems. This aligns with broader UK ambitions to develop sovereign AI infrastructure, reducing reliance on foreign technologies while shaping safety standards and ensuring transparency in deployment. There's also potential for OpenAI to co-invest in state-of-the-art AI-enabled R&D facilities in the UK, focusing on areas of strategic interest and national importance. From London to Leadership The expansion of OpenAI's London office is a symbol of how seriously the company is taking its UK commitment. Once a modest outpost, the team now plays a vital role in global AI development -- supporting research, engineering, and partnerships with British startups and enterprises. With the new partnership in place, that footprint is expected to grow significantly. It's a striking vote of confidence in the UK as a global AI hub -- and a clear sign that, in the race to shape the future, Britain isn't just watching from the sidelines.

UK and ChatGPT maker OpenAI sign new strategic partnership - The Economic Times

The government has set out plans to invest 1 billion pounds in computing infrastructure for AI development, hoping to increase public compute capacity 20 fold over the next five years.Britain and ChatGPT maker OpenAI have signed a new strategic partnership to deepen collaboration on AI security research and explore investing in British AI infrastructure, such as data centres, the government said on Monday. "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS (National Health Service), breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth," Peter Kyle, secretary of state for technology, said in a statement. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK." The government has set out plans to invest 1 billion pounds in computing infrastructure for AI development, hoping to increase public compute capacity 20 fold over the next five years. The United States, China and India are emerging as front runners in the race to develop AI, putting pressure on Europe to catch up. The partnership with OpenAI, whose tie-up with Microsoft once drew the scrutiny of Britain's competition regulator, will see the company possibly increase the size of its London office, and explore where it can deploy AI in areas such as justice, defence, security and education technology. In the same statement, OpenAI head Sam Altman praised the government for being the first to recognise the technology's potential through its "AI Opportunities Action Plan" - an initiative by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to turn the UK into an artificial intelligence superpower. The Labour government, which has struggled to increase economic growth meaningfully in its first year in power and has since fallen behind in polls, has said that the technology could increase productivity by 1.5% a year, worth an extra 47 billion pounds ($63.37 billion) annually over a decade.

OpenAI and UK Government Partner on AI Infrastructure and Deployment | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The memorandum of understanding, which is voluntary and not legally binding, aims to "maintain a world-leading UK AI ecosystem rooted in democratic values," the U.K.'s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said in a Monday (July 21) press release. The partnership includes exploring the deployment of AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of taxpayer-funded services, the development of AI technology in the U.K. and support of the country's AI Growth Zones, according to the release. The agreement marks a deepening of OpenAI's commitment to the U.K., which included the company choosing the country for its first international office two years ago, the release said. In addition, the company's ChatGPT large language model powers an AI assistant called Humphrey that is used by the U.K.'s civil service. It comes at a time when the U.K. is investing up to 500 million pounds (about $675 million) in sovereign AI, per the release. "This partnership will see more of [OpenAI's] work taking place in the U.K., creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward," Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said in the release. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the release: "Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognize the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan." The AI Opportunities Action Plan pledges to ramp up AI adoption across the U.K. through world class research, startup scale-up support, AI governance leadership and other actions, PYMNTS reported in February. In November, the U.K. government announced that it was providing a platform to help businesses assess and mitigate the risks associated with AI as the technology's use becomes more widespread. The U.K. has taken a decidedly "pro-innovation" approach to the question of AI regulation, PYMNTS reported in February 2024. The government's regulatory framework for AI is centered on the goal of transforming the U.K. into an "AI-enabled" nation, as well as a science and technology superpower, by the end of the decade.

OpenAI and UK Seal AI Partnership to Boost Public Services and Infrastructure

AI in Action: UK Partners with OpenAI to Transform National Services and Data Systems OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has reached a memorandum of understanding with the UK government to incorporate artificial intelligence into various public services, including education, justice, defense, and civil administration. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced the deal, which has the backing of OpenAI's Chief Executive Sam Altman. The agreement focuses on AI safety, infrastructure development, and investment in data centers.

OpenAI and UK sign new AI agreement to boost security, infrastructure

(Reuters) -The UK government said it signed a strategic partnership with OpenAI on Monday, with plans to expand AI security research collaborations and explore investing in AI infrastructure such as data centres. The Microsoft-backed AI startup will also expand its London office, building up its research and engineering teams at OpenAI's first international location opened two years ago, according to a statement. As part of the agreement, OpenAI will share technical information with the UK AI Security Institute to deepen the government's knowledge of AI capabilities and security risks. "The partnership will explore where it can deploy AI in areas such as justice, defence and security, and education technology in line with UK standards and guidelines to demonstrate the opportunity to make taxpayer funded services more efficient and effective," the statement said. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona)