UK to establish dedicated AI growth zones

The United Kingdom has announced its intention to create specialized zones dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Report informs via the British government that these AI Growth Zones will serve as hubs for the construction of state-of-the-art data processing centers and will explore the potential use of small nuclear reactors to power these facilities.

According to the British government's official website, the AI Growth Zones will benefit from a streamlined planning approval process and enhanced access to the power grid.

The first AI Growth Zone is set to be established in Culham, home to the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

To further support this endeavor, a dedicated AI Energy Council will be formed, co-chaired by ministers responsible for science and energy. The council will delve into the technical requirements and challenges faced by data centers, particularly the latest generation known for their extreme energy consumption. They will also investigate the feasibility of powering these facilities using small modular reactors.

The government's ambitious plan aims to achieve a twentyfold increase in the computational capacity of public data processing centers. Additionally, it seeks to establish a new national data library and assemble a team tasked with identifying novel opportunities for AI implementation.