UK Launches $1.5 Billion AI Hardware Investment With Supercomputer Funding
Britain Unveils Ambitious AI Hardware and Supercomputing Strategy
LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - Britain set out a new £1.1 billion ($1.47 billion) plan on Monday to build domestic AI computing capacity, including a new national supercomputer and funding to back homegrown chip firms.
The strategy builds on a £400 million commitment announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at London Tech Week earlier on Monday for specialist AI chip purchases, part of a wider effort to strengthen the country's sovereign computing capability.
Key Details of the UK AI Hardware Commitment
Below are the key details of Britain's commitment, set out by the government:
National AI Supercomputer Initiative
• A £750 million national AI supercomputer will deploy in 2030, using a mixed chip system combining proven and next-generation processors.
Next-Generation Chip Investments
• £400 million of the supercomputer budget will go towards next-generation chips, including £150 million for inference chips to be purchased this summer from British firms.
Backing UK AI Hardware Companies
• A fund led by U.S. venture capital firm Playground Global and backed by up to £150 million from the British Business Bank will invest in UK AI hardware companies.
• The BBB's commitment marks the largest single fund investment the bank has ever made.
• Playground Global will open its first office outside the U.S. in the UK.
AI Hardware Innovation and Skills Support
• A £120 million AI hardware innovation programme will fund British companies to design, develop and test novel chips.
• £45 million in new skills support brings total government AI hardware sector skills funding to £80 million.($1 = 0.7488 pounds)
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Sam Tabahriti and Sarah Young. Writing by Sam Tabahriti. Editing by Kate Holton and Jan Harvey)
