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Britain Aims To Build OpenAI Rival And Become World Leader In AI, Says PM Keir Starmer

Britain is determined to carve out a dominant role in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government pledging to develop a competitor to OpenAI. The ambitious goal positions the UK as a potential world leader in AI.

Key Developments

  • Starmer is set to visit Bristol to announce the UK’s commitment to developing AI capabilities, building on British tech investor Matt Clifford’s “AI Capabilities Action Plan.”
  • The UK government intends to significantly expand its data center capacity to support the growing demand for high-performance AI models.
  • By 2030, the UK aims to boost its sovereign computing capacity—referring to the public sector’s ability to host and manage AI systems—by a factor of twenty.
  • As part of the initiative, the government will provide access to its AI Research Resource program, designed to strengthen the country’s computing infrastructure.
  • Last year, Starmer’s administration chose to prioritize other budget commitments, sidelining £1.3 billion earmarked for major computing projects such as the AI Research Resource and an exascale supercomputer—plans initially set by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak.

Key Insight

“Sovereign AI” is becoming a focal point for policymakers, especially across Europe. The term refers to the strategic development of AI and technologies deemed essential for national security and economic prosperity within the borders of the countries that use them.

Looking Ahead

To fortify its AI infrastructure, the UK government will also create AI growth zones, relaxing building permit regulations in select regions to enable the construction of new data centers. Additionally, the establishment of an “AI Energy Council” will explore how renewable and low-carbon energy sources, such as nuclear power, can support AI growth.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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