$MSFT (+0,36%) ; $NVDA (-2,07%)
$MSFT (+0,36%) plans to invest more than 30 billion US dollars in its UK business activities and artificial intelligence infrastructure over the next four years.
According to Microsoft President Brad Smith, the investment includes USD 15.5 billion for capacity expansion, building on the USD 3.2 billion Microsoft had already announced for UK data centers in 2023.
The technology company will also invest 15.1 billion US dollars in operations in the UK, including its AI lab in London, the gaming division and other activities.
As part of the plan, Microsoft will ship 23,000 advanced $NVDA (-2,07%) AI chips to the UK as part of the plan.
Smith noted that the business climate in the UK has improved in recent years, particularly after the UK Competition and Markets Authority dropped its opposition to Microsoft's takeover of Activision Blizzard in 2023.
The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK. Smith clarified that Microsoft had not received any request from the Trump administration to make this investment announcement.
Smith also emphasized that this investment is independent of OpenAI and its Stargate project.