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The United Kingdom is taking a significant leap forward in advancing its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by allocating $130 million to acquire AI processors. This strategic move aims to address the pressing challenge of limited computational capacity for AI applications within the country.
A recent survey has unveiled that a substantial 20% of businesses in the UK are grappling with inadequate computational resources to harness the full potential of AI effectively. In response, the UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is launching an initiative to strengthen the nation's AI infrastructure.
Amid a global competition to secure computational capacity, the UK government's strategy involves investing $100 million to procure thousands of computer processors, with the ultimate goal of propelling its AI ambitions. This initiative aligns with Sunak's vision of positioning the UK as a prominent AI technology hub.
However, the UK's ambitions extend beyond mere resource acquisition. A comprehensive plan is underway to establish an "AI Research Resource" by mid-2024. This initiative is being spearheaded by the UK Research and Innovation organization, which is reportedly in discussions with major manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD to procure AI chips. An order for 5,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) is said to be on the horizon.
While the allocated budget for this endeavor stands at $130 million, there are indications that this figure might fall short of Sunak's broader aspirations for establishing a robust AI hub. Consequently, discussions around securing additional funding are expected to unfold during an AI safety summit scheduled for November.
The driving force behind this investment stems from a recent study highlighting the challenges that businesses face in adopting AI due to financial constraints and technical limitations. An independent assessment earlier this year underscored that the UK's investment in AI was trailing behind that of its international counterparts, particularly the United States and the European Union.
Experts advising the UK echoed the call for action, recommending the immediate procurement of at least 3,000 high-quality AI chips. This advice comes at a time when the demand for such chips is outstripping supply, evident from the scarcity of NVIDIA chips available for AI research.
The push to enhance AI infrastructure underscores the recognition that the ability to accommodate AI workloads plays a pivotal role in determining global leadership in the AI domain. As underscored by S&P Global's recent AI trend report, addressing processing capacity issues will be a crucial factor in shaping the future landscape of AI, even as the technology is still in its nascent stages.
