During the final day of his two-day state visit, President Donald Trump issued a cautionary statement to AI technology leaders, expressing, “I hope you understand the implications of your actions.” The President engaged in discussions with Sir Keir Starmer to finalize a strategic technology partnership agreement.
Addressing the audience of tech executives, Trump emphasized the significance of forging a historic accord on science and technology collaborations, aiming to foster collaborative efforts among government entities, academia, and the private sector, particularly in the rapidly advancing field of AI.
Singling out a member of the assembly, he directed his attention to Jensen Huang, the President and CEO of NVIDIA, acknowledging the company’s remarkable growth in the AI sector. Trump light-heartedly remarked, “I’m watching you closely, Jensen. Your influence is expanding rapidly, but I trust you’re steering in the right direction.”
The ceremonial signing of the agreement, overseen by Sir Keir Starmer, involved playful banter with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, as Trump humorously questioned their responsibility for the deal’s success.
The event gathered prominent figures from British and American business sectors, including CEOs from renowned companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Alphabet, BlackRock, and Citi Group. Political dignitaries such as Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and US officials Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, and Howard Lutnick were also in attendance.
As part of the visit, the UK announced a substantial influx of investments totaling £150 billion ($204 billion) from US companies, with Blackstone committing £90 billion ($122 billion) over the next decade. In return, significant investments will flow from the UK to the US, including nearly $30 billion from GSK.
Starmer lauded the investment package as “unprecedented in British history.” The leaders also sealed a “tech prosperity deal” expected to generate numerous job opportunities and substantial investments in AI, quantum computing, and nuclear energy sectors.
The agreement encompasses the establishment of a UK branch of Stargate, an AI initiative endorsed by Trump and spearheaded by OpenAI, alongside the construction of multiple AI data centers across the UK. American corporations have pledged £31 billion ($42 billion) for investments in the UK’s AI industry, with Microsoft committing $30 billion for initiatives like the UK’s largest supercomputer project.
This significant development marks a pivotal moment in technological collaborations between the UK and the US, promising substantial advancements in various sectors.
