Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has declared that the UK is on course to become an AI superpower, as the company confirmed a £500 million investment in British cloud computing firm NScale. Speaking in London ahead of a state banquet with President Donald Trump, Huang praised the UK’s academic strength and innovative firms such as DeepMind and Wayve. “You just don’t appreciate it. Your universities. Come on. You’re too humble,” he said.
NScale is forecast to generate up to £50 billion in revenue over the next six years, establishing it as a major force in the UK’s AI economy. The investment is part of a wider wave of US technology commitments following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s call for international backing to expand AI infrastructure.
Nvidia is also leading an £11 billion programme to build Europe’s largest GPU hub in the UK by 2026, deploying 120,000 Blackwell GPUs. Around 70 per cent of the funding will go into computing and networking infrastructure. Huang said the facility would deliver performance 100 times greater than the UK’s Isambard AI supercomputer in Bristol.
He cautioned, however, that energy supply must keep pace with demand, pointing to nuclear and gas turbine power as essential for sustaining data centre growth.
Huang also addressed geopolitical tensions, calling China’s reported ban on Nvidia chip sales “disappointing” and urging collaboration. “It is safer for the world that China and the United States collaborate in AI than to isolate,” he said.
On copyright, Huang acknowledged concerns raised by artists including Elton John and Mick Jagger over the use of creative works in AI training. He argued that artists should be able to monetise their creations, calling for fair solutions that balance innovation with intellectual property rights.
In financial services, UK regulators are accelerating AI adoption. The Financial Conduct Authority is launching a “supercharged sandbox” for banks and financial firms to trial Nvidia products. Jessica Rusu, the FCA’s chief data officer, described it as vital for ensuring markets and consumers benefit from AI advances.
Internationally, NScale is building a $1 billion renewable-powered AI facility in Norway, known as Stargate Norway, equipped with Nvidia’s latest processors. The project reflects growing global momentum behind sustainable AI infrastructure.
Nvidia’s investments and Huang’s endorsement underline international confidence in the UK’s AI potential. While energy and regulatory challenges remain, the country’s academic expertise, entrepreneurial drive and expanding infrastructure leave it well-placed to lead responsibly in the global AI race.
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