Google has announced plans to invest £5 billion, about $6.8 billion, in the United Kingdom over the next two years as part of efforts to support the country’s artificial intelligence development.
The announcement came just before the arrival of United States President Donald Trump on his second state visit to Britain.
The investment will cover capital expenditure, research, and development across Google operations in the UK. It also includes support for Google DeepMind, which is widely known for its work in artificial intelligence research in areas such as healthcare and science. A new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, also forms part of Google’s expansion in the country. The facility had first been announced last year with a $1 billion commitment, and the new pledge is in addition to that amount.
President Trump is expected to arrive in Britain later today. During his visit, he will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his official residence, where he will be joined by several leading American technology executives. Media reports suggest that the chief executives of Nvidia and OpenAI will be among those present.
The visit is expected to lead to the signing of agreements worth about £10 billion between the two countries. These will include cooperation in science and technology, as well as faster approval processes and private sector funding for nuclear energy projects. The UK government views the partnerships as part of its broader plan to reach net zero targets and improve energy security.
In addition, financial companies such as PayPal and Citi Group have already announced plans to invest over £1 billion in the UK, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations ahead of the talks.