The UK government and OpenAI have signed a landmark strategic partnership to accelerate AI research, infrastructure investment, and public service transformation across the country.
Announced today by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the agreement sets out a shared vision to expand AI security research, explore investment in UK-based data centres, and deploy advanced AI models in public services such as education, justice, and national security.
The partnership builds on OpenAI’s growing presence in the UK, including plans to expand its London office, which was its first international location. UK-based teams already contribute to the development of frontier AI models and support local businesses, developers, and start-ups.
The agreement aims to reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in AI, rooted in democratic values and scientific excellence. It aligns with the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, Life Sciences Sector Plan, and 10-Year Health Plan for England.
OpenAI and the UK government will explore how AI can improve taxpayer-funded services. This includes:
- Justice and defence applications
- Education technology
- Civil service efficiency tools, such as Whitehall’s AI assistant ‘Humphrey’
Peter Kyle, Technology Secretary, said:
“AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country – whether that’s in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth. That’s why we need to make sure Britain is front and centre when it comes to developing and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us.
“This can’t be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward.”
OpenAI’s GPT-4o already powers tools like ‘Consult’, which accelerates policy-making by analysing public consultation responses in minutes, tasks that previously took officials weeks.
The partnership will also explore investment in AI Growth Zones, which aim to attract billions in infrastructure funding. Backed by £2 billion in the Spending Review, these zones will support sovereign AI capabilities and drive regional economic growth.
Scotland and Wales have already been confirmed as hosts for AI Growth Zones under the UK’s Compute Strategy, with over 200 bids submitted nationwide.
OpenAI may also collaborate on state-of-the-art AI-enabled R&D infrastructure, focusing on shared strategic priorities with the UK government.
This partnership marks a significant step in ensuring that UK citizens benefit from frontier AI technologies, while supporting innovation, security, and economic growth.
Image credit: iStock
