OpenAI has signed a strategic partnership with the UK government to deepen collaboration on AI security, support infrastructure investment and explore how AI can enhance taxpayer-funded services like justice, defence and education.
OpenAI and the UK government have signed a new strategic partnership setting out plans to expand AI security research collaborations, explore investing in UK AI infrastructure such as data centres and identify new ways for taxpayer-funded services like security and education to make best use of the latest technology.
It comes as OpenAI deepens its commitment to the UK, with plans to expand its London office. The move will build out what began as the company’s first international location just two years ago, where research and engineering teams contribute to the development of frontier AI models and provide support to UK businesses, developers and start-ups.
The partnership will explore how AI can be deployed in areas such as justice, defence and security and education technology – in line with UK standards and guidelines. The goal is to demonstrate how taxpayer-funded services can become more efficient and effective.
Signed by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the Memorandum of Understanding outlines the intention to build on the UK’s strengths in science, innovation and talent to “maintain a world-leading UK AI ecosystem rooted in democratic values”.
Under the partnership, OpenAI will also explore ways to deliver the infrastructure priorities set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, recognising the importance of UK sovereign capability in unlocking the economic benefits of AI. The move could enable world-changing AI technologies to be developed in the UK, driving innovation and growth.
The agreement includes potential investment in and support for AI Growth Zones, first announced in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has since been backed by £2 billion in the Spending Review.
With over 200 bids from across the UK, AI Growth Zones are expected to become hubs for AI infrastructure, each attracting billions of pounds in investment.
The UK government has already confirmed that Scotland and Wales will both host AI Growth Zones as part of its Compute Strategy.
The initiative builds on the UK’s commitment to invest up to £500 million in sovereign AI, including support for national AI champions and partnerships with world-leading companies like OpenAI. This partnership is a key component of the UK’s mission to remain at the forefront of frontier AI development.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle 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 CEO Sam Altman said: “AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth. Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan. Now, it’s time to deliver on the plan’s goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all.”
The AI lab could also work with the government to explore how advanced AI models can improve the public services used by millions every day, while supporting economic growth nationwide.
OpenAI’s large language model, ChatGPT, already powers multiple tools in ‘Humphrey’, Whitehall’s AI assistant designed to streamline the civil service by automating routine tasks.
For instance, GPT-4o is used in ‘Consult’, a custom tool that accelerates the policymaking process by automatically sorting public responses to consultations – completing a task that takes officials weeks in just minutes, while still leaving critical decisions to experts.
In addition to supporting infrastructure projects outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, OpenAI may also explore the development of state-of-the-art, AI-enabled R&D infrastructure in the UK focused on shared areas of strategic interest with the government.
