OpenAI Partners with NVIDIA and Nscale to Launch Stargate UK AI Infrastructure

Details

• OpenAI has unveiled Stargate UK, a new partnership with NVIDIA and Nscale designed to provide sovereign AI infrastructure within the United Kingdom for specialized applications in public services, regulated sectors, and national security.
• The initiative includes plans for OpenAI to secure up to 8,000 GPUs in the first quarter of 2026, with expansion potential to 31,000 GPUs, leveraging NVIDIA’s Grace Blackwell GPUs powered by ARM semiconductor technology.
• Stargate UK infrastructure will be established at several locations, including Cobalt Park in the North East AI Growth Zone, to enable UK-controlled compute capabilities for sensitive and jurisdiction-specific workloads.
• This collaboration is the latest under OpenAI for Countries and follows a memorandum of understanding with the UK government signed in July 2025, aligning with a broader US-UK technology partnership timed to President Trump’s state visit.
• OpenAI will extend its Academy program to the UK, aiming to help train 7.5 million workers in AI skills by 2030, as part of a combined focus on both infrastructure and workforce development.

Impact

The Stargate UK launch reflects intensifying investment in British AI infrastructure, alongside recent commitments exceeding £50 billion from US tech giants during Trump's visit. This move strengthens the UK's position as a leader in sovereign AI, addressing national data control for sensitive fields. As governments seek to build independent AI ecosystems, Stargate UK sets a new benchmark for balancing innovation with data sovereignty and regulatory needs.