Nvidia CEO: Britain Needs Computing Power To Develop AI

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (right) with British PM Keir Starmer (photo: x @nvidia)

JAKARTA The UK lacks adequate computing infrastructure to realize the full potential of its leading artificial intelligence (AI) research base. This was said by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, on Monday, June 9. This statement was made in line with the UK's collaboration with the US chipmaker to create a new AI testing environment.

Huang's comments coincided with an announcement from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which will launch a new framework in October to allow financial companies to test AI tools in controlled environments. This move is part of the government's strategy to support innovation and economic growth.

England is the largest AI ecosystem in the world that doesn't yet have its own infrastructure, Huang said in front of the audience at the London Tech Week event, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He mentioned that Britain has the best universities, leading AI startups, and the third largest AI venture capital market in the world.

Huang praised the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer's plan to increase Britain's domestic computing capacity by up to 20 times as well as an investment of 1 billion pounds (around Rp22 trillion).

"The ability to build a supercomputer AI in the UK will naturally attract more startups and allow the development of a very rich research ecosystem here," he added. He called Britain an "extraordinary place to invest."

The FCA has teamed up with Nvidia to provide access to advanced computing power and tailored AI technology.

The program aims to help companies that are still in the early stages of AI exploration, by providing access to technical expertise, better datasets, and regulatory support, according to the FCA. The program is open to all financial services companies experimenting with AI.

Britain's Finance Minister, Rachel Reeves, has urged British regulators to remove barriers to economic growth, calling it the government's "major priority".

In April, Reeves said he was pleased with the response of the FCA and Prudential Regulation Authority (part of the Bank of England) to his call to cut the bureaucracy.

Prime Minister Starmer also announced in a speech opening London Tech Week that Israeli fintech company Liquidity Group will open their European headquarters in London, representing an investment of 1.5 billion.