Finance
OpenAI to make London its biggest research hub outside US
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Quick Summary
OpenAI will make London its largest research hub outside the U.S., citing the UK’s strong AI talent and institutions. The move aligns with Britain’s AI ambitions; investment size and job numbers were not disclosed.
OpenAI names London its largest research hub outside the United States
Why OpenAI Is Scaling in London
LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - ChatGPT maker OpenAI said on Thursday that it would make London its largest research hub outside the United States, citing Britain's technology ecosystem as an ideal environment to invest in and develop new artificial intelligence systems.
UK’s AI ‘superpower’ push
The move feeds into Britain's push to cast itself as an "AI superpower" and a home for cutting-edge research at a time when governments are vying for investment from major model developers.
Talent, universities and institutions
Mark Chen, OpenAI's research chief, said the country's mix of talent, leading universities and globally respected scientific institutions gives it leverage in a sector governments worldwide view as strategically important.
Government reaction
Technology minister Liz Kendall said OpenAI's expansion in London was a "huge vote of confidence."
Kendall: ‘Huge vote of confidence’
"It also reaffirms the UK's global leadership as the place to pursue AI innovation that is both safe and transformative," Kendall said in a statement.
Investment and jobs details
OpenAI did not set out specific details on the plan, such as the size of any investment or the number of jobs it would involve.
London teams: software & infrastructure
OpenAI’s Europe footprint
The company, whose European headquarters are in Dublin, opened its first international office in London in 2023, with its teams working on the software and infrastructure needed to develop and run its AI models.
Reporting and editing credits
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James)
Key Takeaways
- •OpenAI will make London its biggest research hub outside the United States.
- •The move supports Britain’s ambition to position itself as an AI superpower.
- •OpenAI’s Mark Chen cited UK talent, universities and scientific institutions as key drivers.
- •UK technology minister Liz Kendall called the expansion a huge vote of confidence.
- •No investment figure or job numbers were disclosed; London builds on a 2023 office opening.
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenAI to make London its biggest research hub outside US
1What is the main topic?
OpenAI plans to make London its largest research hub outside the United States, highlighting the UK’s strength in AI talent and institutions.
2Why is OpenAI expanding in London?
The company cites the UK’s mix of top talent, leading universities and respected scientific bodies as an ideal environment to advance new AI systems.
3Did OpenAI disclose investment or job numbers?
No. OpenAI did not provide details on the size of the investment or the number of roles associated with the expansion.
