In the wake of President Trump’s visit, US technology giants have pledged billions to develop Britain’s AI and data centre infrastructure, escalating the UK’s role in the global tech race amid environmental and market challenges.
President Donald Trump’s second state visit to Britain was not only marked by ceremonial grandeur but also by a significant surge in transatlantic technology investments, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre infrastructure. This visit underscored the UK’s growing role in the global AI race, largely fuelled by the declarations of commitment from some of the most powerful players in US technology, specifically members of the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’—Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and Nvidia.
These technology giants, through a collective initiative known as the Tech Prosperity Deal, have pledged billions in investment to foster closer UK-US collaboration in areas including AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy. Microsoft alone announced an extraordinary £22 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure, which includes plans to build the UK’s largest AI supercomputer in Loughton. Nvidia committed to deploying 120,000 of its latest Blackwell GPUs across the UK, marking its largest European rollout. Google intends to invest £5 billion in UK AI research and infrastructure, including a major new data centre in Hertfordshire designed to support AI-powered services such as Google Cloud and Maps. This facility will be powered predominantly by renewable energy and incorporate innovative cooling and energy storage systems to address increasing energy demands.
These commitments collectively form part of a wider £150 billion investment influx from US firms, validation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s strategic decision to align the UK more closely with the US in the global AI competition, especially vis-à-vis China. This investment includes significant stakes from private equity giant Blackstone (£100 billion) and Microsoft (£22 billion), framing the UK as a critical hub for future technology growth.
Central to this technological transformation is the expansion of data centres, the physical backbone that supports AI and cloud computing. The number of UK data centres is expected to rise by 20% by 2030, with a target to reach six gigawatts of capacity to meet unprecedented power needs. An AI search, for example, is estimated to consume ten times the energy of a typical online search, underscoring the infrastructure’s energy intensity. Investment trusts specialising in these facilities are already positioned to benefit: Tritax Big Box is developing multiple data halls near Heathrow with a low-carbon power supply, and Segro is expanding its portfolio of urban and big-box warehouses with fitted-out data centres aimed at premium tenancy agreements. Analysts have forecasted growing rental income and raised share price targets, with JP Morgan optimistic about Tritax and Goldman Sachs upgrading their outlook on Segro.
Nevertheless, the construction of these data centres is not without challenges. The ageing national grid was not designed for this scale of consumption, and there are increasing concerns about resource usage, particularly water for cooling and rising electricity consumption, with data centres forecast to demand 6% of the UK’s electricity by 2030, up from 1% today. These energy requirements have prompted environmental and public scrutiny, threatening to prompt backlash over potential increases in energy costs.
To hedge against such risks, some investors are turning to infrastructure funds with holdings in energy companies involved in renewables, such as National Grid and NextEra Energy, recognising the critical role of sustainable energy in supporting the tech ecosystem’s expansion.
Despite the enthusiasm, caution remains warranted. Market observers warn of potential over-optimism around the accelerated build-out of data centres and AI infrastructure. The historic risk of technology bubbles looms if the anticipated productivity boosts from AI fail to materialise as hoped. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, speaking during the same visit, expressed measured caution, reflecting a broader sentiment among investors and analysts, including Goldman Sachs, who remain vigilant for early signs of market stress even as they acknowledge AI’s transformative potential.
Beyond data centres, Nvidia is eyeing further deep-rooted investments in UK AI innovation, with a potential $500 million injection into Wayve, a British autonomous driving startup renowned for its machine learning-driven approach rather than reliance on pre-mapped routes. This aligns with Nvidia’s broader £2 billion commitment to nurturing the UK’s AI startup ecosystem.
In sum, Britain’s ambition to become an AI superpower is matched by massive financial commitments from leading US tech players, supported by government policy and infrastructure investments. However, realising this vision will require navigating significant logistical, environmental, and market risks. For investors and policymakers alike, balancing optimism with prudence is the key as this technological transformation unfolds.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, including the ‘Tech Prosperity Deal’ signed on September 16, 2025, and Nvidia’s proposed $500 million investment in Wayve announced on September 18, 2025. These events are covered in reputable sources such as Reuters and The White House. However, the article’s publication date is not specified, making it challenging to assess its freshness accurately. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material suggests a moderate freshness score. The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of recycled content. The reliance on a press release from Wayve regarding Nvidia’s investment is noted, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No similar content was found published more than 7 days earlier.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Wayve CEO Alex Kendall are present. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicates they originate from the press release dated September 18, 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting the content is original. The wording of the quotes matches the press release, with no variations noted.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. The press release from Wayve is also a credible source. No unverifiable entities are mentioned, and all companies and individuals referenced have a verifiable public presence.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative align with information from reputable sources, including the ‘Tech Prosperity Deal’ and Nvidia’s proposed investment in Wayve. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure does not include excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is formal and resembles typical corporate or official language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents recent developments regarding the ‘Tech Prosperity Deal’ and Nvidia’s proposed investment in Wayve, supported by credible sources. The content appears original, with no evidence of recycled material or discrepancies. The quotes are consistent with the press release, and the source is reputable. While the narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, the information aligns with known facts, and the language and tone are appropriate. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.
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