Google’s UK boss said the company was ‘engaged actively’ with the Government regarding infrastructure and investments(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Google wants to build more AI infrastructure in UK but needs 'right conditions'

'We hope to build more here and continue to invest here, we obviously have a huge new facility opening next year or so. We’d like to build more here, it is true'

by · The Mirror

Google's UK chief has hinted at the tech giant's eagerness to expand its AI infrastructure in the UK, provided the "right conditions" are met.

Debbie Weinstein, Google’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, expressed the company's active engagement with the Government on future investments during her visit to the new AI Campus in North London. The Prime Minister, also attended the centre on Wednesday, declared his ambition for the UK and London to become the prime hub for budding AI enterprises.

The educational hub in Somers Town, launched through a collaboration between Google, Camden Council, and Camden Learning, is set to nurture the next wave of AI talent by educating both youngsters and educators.

Ms Weinstein revealed: "We hope to build more here and continue to invest here, we obviously have a huge new facility opening next year or so. We’d like to build more here, it is true."

"We need to have the right conditions for that, which is around sort of energy costs, access to clean energy, and some of the other infrastructure topics we’ve been pretty public about needing to happen here, but we’re engaged actively with the Government, and hope to be able to make more investments in the future."

She underscored the importance of robust regulation of AI due to its potent nature and commended the Government's "right approach" to tackling issues linked to the technology, especially concerning safety.

She further stated that the "challenge and opportunity" of this rapidly advancing technology is to "be bold about taking advantage of the opportunities", including potential enhancements in healthcare. "So right now, I feel that I support regulation of AI in the areas around safety, and I think it’s important that we also get guardrails so that the opportunity can come forward as well," she expressed.