Nvidia to deploy tens of thousands of AI GPUs in the UK

Nvidia on Tuesday unveiled plans to deploy tens of thousands of its latest AI GPUs across the United Kingdom, marking a major step in the country’s ambitions to cement itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation.

The initiative, announced by CEO Jensen Huang, forms part of what he describes as “sovereign AI” — AI infrastructure built in and for the benefit of individual nations. Nvidia has already launched similar projects in France and the United Arab Emirates.

“The United Kingdom is building the infrastructure for the AI industrial revolution — advancing science, transforming industries, and creating new economic opportunities,” Huang said in a statement.

A National AI Supercomputer

The centerpiece of the UK deployment will be a new supercomputer in Loughton, built in partnership with Microsoft and cloud provider Nscale. The system, powered by 24,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell Ultra chips, will underpin Microsoft’s Azure platform in the UK, creating the country’s most powerful AI computing resource.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella underscored the significance of the collaboration:

“We are focused on ensuring that both the US and the UK remain at the forefront of AI and cloud innovation. That is why we are partnering with Nvidia to bring together our global platform with their latest compute, software and network capabilities.”

Alongside this, Nscale announced it will deploy 60,000 Nvidia GPUs across the UK, with plans to bring its joint Stargate UK data centers — developed in collaboration with OpenAI — online by 2026.

OpenAI’s UK Bet

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the UK’s historical role in AI and its growing ecosystem of researchers, developers, and users:

“The UK has been a longstanding pioneer of AI and is now home to world-class researchers, millions of ChatGPT users, and a government that quickly recognized the potential of this technology,” Altman said. “Stargate UK builds on this foundation to help accelerate scientific breakthroughs, improve productivity and drive economic growth.”

Beyond AI Data Centers

The UK initiative extends well beyond cloud and AI compute. Nvidia is partnering with quantum computing firms including OQC and Digital Realty to establish a quantum AI center. Projects underway include:

• Hybrid quantum deep neural networks developed by ORCA Computing, Imperial College London, and Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center.
• GPU-accelerated quantum error-correction research led by the University of Edinburgh.
• Robotics and other AI-driven research programs in partnership with UK institutions.

A Strategic Announcement

The announcement coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, signaling the geopolitical weight behind such AI investments. Nvidia’s expansion also reflects growing global competition to secure leadership in advanced computing infrastructure.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Nvidia shares were trading at $171.04, down 2.17%.

With Nvidia, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nscale pouring resources into the country, the UK is positioning itself as a central player in the global race to harness AI — not only for industry but also for national competitiveness.