Alphabet unveils £5bn UK AI investment ahead of Trump visit
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Tuesday 16 Sep 2025
(Sharecast News) - Google parent company Alphabet confirmed on Tuesday that it will make a £5bn UK investment in artificial intelligence, marking a major expansion of its infrastructure and research footprint.
Google's investment includes a $1bn data centre in Waltham Cross, set to be officially opened by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday, and additional funding for DeepMind, Alphabet's London-based AI research unit led by Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis.
Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat said the UK offered "profound opportunities" for advanced science, citing the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan as a key enabler. However, she warned that capturing the upside of the AI boom was "not a foregone conclusion".
Porat also addressed concerns around energy use, confirming the new facility would be air-cooled, with excess heat repurposed for local buildings. Google has signed a deal with Shell to supply 95% carbon-free energy across its UK operations.
She added that Google remained focused on AI-related job creation, stating that the technology should be seen as a collaborator, not a replacement. "Each one of us needs to start using AI," she said, "rather than fearing it from the sidelines".
Alphabet's move comes ahead of Donald Trump's state visit, with further multi-billion-dollar commitments from US tech firms expected in the coming days.
As of 0845 BST, Alphabet shares were up 0.59% in pre-market trading at $253.25 each.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
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