The United Kingdom and the United States have signed a landmark technology pact, valued at $42 billion, to strengthen ties in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy. The agreement, dubbed the “Tech Prosperity Deal,” was announced during US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to Britain. The pact aims to promote economic growth, scientific research, and energy security in both countries through joint efforts to develop AI models for healthcare, expand quantum computing capabilities, and streamline civil nuclear projects.
Top US firms, led by Microsoft, have pledged significant investments in the UK as part of the deal. Microsoft will invest $22 billion to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure, including the establishment of Britain’s largest AI supercomputer in Loughton, north-east London. Nvidia will deploy 120,000 graphics processing units across the UK, its largest rollout in Europe to date, and partner with OpenAI and Microsoft on various projects. Google has announced a $5 billion investment, including a new data centre in Waltham Cross, north of London, and continued support for AI research through its DeepMind project.
Other firms, including Salesforce, Scale AI, BlackRock, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, and AI Pathfinder, have also committed to investments ranging from hundreds of millions to several billion pounds. The UK’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has welcomed the deal, stating that it has the potential to shape the future of millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic and deliver growth and security. The US is Britain’s single largest trading partner, and the deal is expected to further strengthen their economic ties.
The Tech Prosperity Deal is seen as a significant boost to Britain’s economy, which has experienced weak growth in recent years. The UK government hopes to attract further investment by adopting a light-touch regulatory approach, similar to that of the US, in areas such as AI. The deal does not include discussions on European online safety laws and digital taxes, which have been a point of contention between the US and the EU.
The investments announced as part of the deal are expected to make the UK a major player in the development of AI and other emerging technologies. According to David Hogan, vice president for enterprise at Nvidia, the investments will “truly make the UK an AI maker, not an AI taker.” The deal is a significant step forward in the UK-US economic relationship and is expected to have a lasting impact on the growth and development of both countries.
