OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang are preparing to announce a multi-billion-dollar UK data centre investment next week, timed with US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain. The move signals Washington’s push to deepen AI cooperation with allies while strengthening local computing power outside of US cloud giants.

A Sovereign AI Push

According to people familiar with the matter, the investment will be made in partnership with London-based Nscale Global Holdings. The UK government will provide the energy backbone, Nvidia will supply its AI chips, and OpenAI will deliver access to its models and technology. Final terms are still being negotiated, but the pledge is expected to run into the billions.

The deal comes amid a surge in “sovereign AI” projects — government-backed efforts to ensure national control over data and AI capacity. Nvidia said in August these sovereign deals could generate more than $20 billion in revenue in 2025 alone.

Global Context

This is not the first time Altman and Huang have joined Trump abroad to advance AI infrastructure deals. In May, they traveled with him to the Gulf, where Saudi Arabia and the UAE committed billions to regional AI hubs. The EU has also launched a €20 billion fund to mobilize €200 billion for AI “gigafactories.”

In June, Huang met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who pledged £1 billion to expand Britain’s AI computing power. Huang at the time cautioned that the UK was falling behind in digital infrastructure and risked missing out on the AI race.

Political Ties and Stargate Legacy

Altman and Huang have cultivated close ties with Trump, most visibly through Project Stargate — a $500 billion US data center initiative backed by OpenAI, Nvidia, SoftBank, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. Trump has touted Stargate as the backbone of America’s AI leadership.

The UK investment is seen as a strategic extension of that effort, cementing the country as a key hub in Washington’s AI alliance network.

Market & Industry Implications

  • Nvidia ($NVDA) continues to dominate global AI hardware demand, with governments now among its biggest customers.
  • OpenAI gains new international partners, extending its influence beyond US hyperscalers like Microsoft.
  • The UK government strengthens its pitch to be a European leader in AI infrastructure.

With Trump pushing for aggressive AI expansion, Altman and Huang’s announcement could set the stage for a new wave of cross-border AI mega-deals.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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