A Transatlantic Tech Alliance: UK Deepens Dependence on US AI Firms

The UK’s high-level engagement with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic signals a deepening transatlantic tech alliance, but also a growing dependence on US firms for its AI future. The discussion of a £2 billion deal with OpenAI is the most striking example of this trend.
The government’s strategy is heavily reliant on attracting investment and technology from a small number of Silicon Valley-based companies. This approach leverages the US’s current dominance in the AI field to kickstart the UK’s own ecosystem.
However, this strategy comes with risks. It makes the UK’s AI ambitions vulnerable to US corporate decisions, changes in US law, or shifts in the geopolitical relationship between the two countries. It also means that a significant portion of the value created by AI in the UK could flow back to American parent companies.
The talks between Peter Kyle and Sam Altman highlight this trade-off. While a partnership could bring immense benefits, it would also cement the UK’s role as a primary consumer and partner of US AI technology, rather than a self-sufficient leader in its own right.