Stargate AI Project Weighs UK Investment as It Expands Overseas
A $500 billion US data centre project backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle is exploring the possibility of investing in the UK as part of its overseas expansion plans, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
The Stargate project has been attracted to the UK due to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s promise to take a pro-innovation approach to regulation, make public data available to researchers, and create zones for data centres. Germany and France have also emerged as attractive candidates for the project’s investment.
In a joint statement to Reuters, SoftBank and OpenAI reiterated their January commitment to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously expressed his willingness to bring a Stargate-like AI program to Europe.
The Stargate project was initially unveiled by US investors as a private sector initiative aimed at funding AI infrastructure to outpace rival nations. The AI sector has seen significant investor enthusiasm in recent years, driven by the adoption of chatbots and sophisticated AI agents.
The UK’s efforts to boost data centres’ access to electricity have been a key factor in attracting Stargate’s interest. As the project continues to explore overseas locations, the UK remains a potential destination for investment.
