January 13th.U.K.Prime Minister Starmer has pledged that the UK government will purchase up to 100,000 blocks by 2030 GPUThis means that the British sovereign AI computing powerwould increase by a factor of 20.It is primarily used for AI applications in academia and public service.
According to 1AI, the UK now has two advanced supercomputers, Isambard-AI at the University of Bristol and Dawn at the University of Cambridge.Isambard-AI is equipped with around 5,000 GPUs, the specialized chips that are the core components of building AI software.
Previously, the UK government commissioned British venture capitalist Matt Clifford to write a report on the opportunities of artificial intelligence for the UK economy. The report, called the AI Opportunity Action Plan, puts forward 50 recommendations aimed at boosting the UK's AI industry by improving the conditions for technology development, expansion, and adoption. Among the recommendations that the government has adopted are the creation of AI "growth zones," where planning approvals for AI infrastructure will be accelerated, and the establishment of an AI Energy Commission to advise on the energy resources needed for AI, including nuclear power.
Technology experts such as Clifford emphasize that sovereign computing power is critical to reducing the dependence of UK AI companies and researchers on AI firms in other countries. They argue that reliable and cost-justified computing capacity is key to driving the development of relevant AI technologies and companies globally, especially as computing infrastructure increasingly becomes a focus of geopolitical competition.
While the exact cost of the project has not yet been announced, funding will come from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's R&D budget. Meanwhile, Clifford has been appointed as a part-time advisor to the government on AI matters to help implement the report's recommendations.
Starmer said, "Our plans will enable the UK to become a global leader in AI, providing the industry with the infrastructure it needs. This will bring more jobs and investment to the UK, increase people's incomes and drive transformation in public services. This is exactly the kind of change this government is delivering."