US tech giant, Musk ally and Trump supporter, pledges to invest $5 billion to adopt AI and data infrastructure

An American technology entrepreneur has outlined bold plans to launch a huge investment in artificial intelligence (AI) in the United Kingdom.

Larry Ellison co-founded software company Oracle Corporation in 1977 and served as the chief executive officer until 2014, before moving to become executive chairman. The Telegraph reports that Oracle is now planning to invest $5 billion to expand its data infrastructure into the UK and expedite the move to AI.

The 80-year-old is now the world’s fifth-richest man and has used his $184 billion fortune to help support President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. He has also been a prominent backer of Elon Muck, helping to push through the Twitter takeover and serving on Tesla’s board at one point.

What is Oracle planning for AI in the UK?

Oracle has a major interest in the development of AI as one of the world’s biggest providers of cloud services, a key component in the burgeoning technology. A statement from Oracle outlined its intention “to meet the rapidly growing demand for its cloud services in the UK”.

The company has committed to expanding its cloud infrastructure in Britain but hasn’t yet confirmed whether this would mean the construction of additional physical sites. There are already Oracle data centres operating in London and Newport but the development of AI will necessitate much greater computing power.

UK technology secretary Peter Kyle welcomed the news, saying: “The UK is determined to lead the world in AI innovation, and today’s announcement from Oracle is a testament to our nation’s growing strength in this sector.”

“This $5bn investment will accelerate our AI ambitions, providing businesses and public services with cutting-edge cloud infrastructure to drive productivity, enhance security, and unlock new opportunities for growth – driving forward our Plan for Change.”

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