The UK government has announced a £100m investment in computer chip development to fuel advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The funds will be used to build a national AI resource in Britain, similar to initiatives underway in the US and other countries. Key components will be ordered from major chipmakers Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. However, concerns have been raised that the government’s investment pales in comparison to those made by peers in the EU, US, and China.

To address this issue, the government is reportedly in advanced stages of placing an order of up to 5,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia. GPUs, also known as graphics cards, are critical for the processing capacity of chips, especially for complex actions required by AI models. However, the UK’s current share of global semiconductor sales stands at just 0.5%, leading to fears that inadequate investment by the government may leave the country vulnerable in the race for AI chip technology.

In May, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s government unveiled plans to invest £1bn over 10 years in semiconductor research, design, and production. However, this investment is dwarfed by the US’s $52bn Chips Act and the EU’s subsidies of €43bn. The UK must accelerate its progress in this field, considering the mounting geopolitical tensions surrounding AI chip technology, such as the recent ban by the White House on US investment in advanced Chinese microconductors.

As part of its efforts, the UK will be hosting an AI summit this autumn to establish shared standards for technology that some believe poses an existential risk to the future of humanity. UK Research and Innovation, along with the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, is leading the initiative to secure orders with major chip manufacturers.

The government’s commitment to fostering a thriving environment for compute in the UK, leveraging its position as a global leader in science, innovation, and technology, is clear. In addition to the £100m investment, the establishment of the Foundation Model Taskforce and announcements on the AI Research Resource are expected in the near future.