LONDON, July 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

*

One of the world's leading AI labs inks a new government partnership, revealing planstoexplore investing in UK AI infrastructure and regional growth zonestorevitalise communities with jobs and growth.

*

Initiative will also seeOpenAIshare more technical information with UK AI Security Institutetodeepen government knowledge of AI capabilities and security risks, as well as supporting the government's missiontouse AItotransform taxpayer-funded services.

*

OpenAIalso confirms its intentionto increase its footprint in the UK, building up its research and engineering teamstodeliver on the partnership arrangement.

OpenAIand the UK government havetoday signed a new strategic partnership setting out planstoexpand AI security research collaborations, explore investing in UK AI infrastructure like data centres, and find new ways for taxpayer funded services like security and educationtomake best use of the latest tech.

It comes asOpenAIdeepens its commitmenttothe UK, with planstoincrease the size of its London officetofollow. The move will build out what started as the company's first international location just 2 years ago, where research and engineering teams contributetothe development of frontier AI models, and support is providedtoUK business, developers and start-ups.

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 guidelinestodemonstrate the opportunitytomake taxpayer funded services more efficient and effective.

Signedtoday by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle andOpenAICEO Sam Altman, the 'Memorandum of Understanding' sets out intenttobuild on the UK's strengths in science, innovation and talentto"maintain a world-leading UK AI ecosystem rooted in democratic values".

Under the partnership,OpenAIwill also explore potential routestodeliver the infrastructure priorities laid out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, recognising the importance of UK sovereign capability in achieving the economic benefits of AI. The move could mean that world-changing AI tech is developed in the UK, driving discoveries that will deliver growth.

It expandstoshare thatOpenAIcould looktoinvest in and support AI Growth Zones, first announced in the AI Opportunities Action Plan which has since been backed by £2 billion in the Spending Review.

With over 200 bids from across the country, AI Growth Zones are settobecome hotbeds for AI infrastructure attracting billions of pounds in investment each.Today's news follows the UK government confirming that Scotland and Wales will both host AI Growth Zones in its Compute Strategy.

The initiative follows the UK investing upto£500 million in sovereign AI that will be spent backing national AI champions and partnering with world leading companies likeOpenAI. This partnership is an important element of our missiontoensure the UK continuestoparticipate actively in the development of frontier AI, and that UK citizens continuetobenefit from the economic growth provided by cutting-edge models.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

AI will be fundamental in driving the change we needtosee across the country - whether that's in fixing the NHS, breaking down barrierstoopportunity or driving economic growth. That's why we needtomake sure Britain is front and centre when it comestodeveloping and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us.

This can't be achieved without companies likeOpenAI, 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, 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 AI lab could also work with governmenttoidentify how advanced AI models could helptoimprove the public services that millions of people use every day, and driving economic growth across the country.

OpenAI's large language model, ChatGPT, already underpins multipletools in 'Humphrey', Whitehall's AI assistant that aimstospeed up the civil service by taking away admin burdens.

For example, GPT 4o is used in 'Consult', the bespoketool that speeds up the policy making process by automatically sorting public responsestoconsultations - doing a task that takes officials weeks in minutes, while leaving important decisionstoexperts.

In additiontosupporting infrastructure plans laid out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan,OpenAImay also explore developing state-of-the-art, AI-enabled R&D infrastructure in the UK, focused on shared areas of strategic interest with the UK government.

Notestoeditors

* The memorandum is voluntary, not legally binding, and without prejudicetoany binding agreements. It does not prejudice against future procurement decisions * Read the MoU between the UK and OpenAI on AI opportunities

DSIT media enquiries

Email press@dsit.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.