The CEOs of OpenAI and Nvidia (NVDA.US) plan to pledge billions of dollars in UK data center investment during their joint visit to the UK with US President Trump next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
The two companies are working with London-based data center company Nscale Global Holdings Ltd. on the project, according to people familiar with the matter. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang are part of the US executive delegation expected to visit the UK.
OpenAI is expected to invest billions of dollars as part of the initiative, according to people familiar with the matter. They also said US companies are expected to announce investments totaling tens of billions of dollars in the UK during Trump's visit next week.
Political and business leaders across Europe have been calling for increased investment in facilities supporting generative artificial intelligence (AI). In January, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a plan to "accelerate AI" through investments in data centers and chips. He also called for the creation of "AI growth zones" to allow data centers to receive fast-track approvals and access to the power grid. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, is seeking to expand its commercial operations in Europe, where it faces stricter regulations and heightened skepticism of Silicon Valley technology.
In May, OpenAI announced the "OpenAI for Countries" initiative, which aims to expand its flagship Stargate data center project overseas. In July, OpenAI said it would be the lead customer of a new data center in Norway, built by Nscale and funded by Norwegian investment firm Aker ASA.
Nscale, founded in May 2024, has previously pledged to invest $2.5 billion in the UK data center industry over three years, including the purchase of a site in Loughton, Essex. When announcing the Loughton campus in January, Nscale said the facility could accommodate up to 45,000 Nvidia GB200 superchips designed specifically for AI. In April, reports emerged that Nscale was seeking to raise $2.7 billion to build AI infrastructure based on its upcoming partnership with ByteDance.
OpenAI's investment in Europe pales in comparison to other regions. For example, the company's first international branch in the United Arab Emirates has pledged 5 GW of capacity. Earlier reports indicated that the US Stargate project is targeting 4.5 GW of capacity. To this end, OpenAI and its partners, including SoftBank Group and Oracle, have pledged to invest up to $500 billion.