Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang made a striking first appearance at London Tech Week, sharing the stage with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Attendees queued for hours to catch even a glimpse of the executive who has come to symbolize the AI revolution—so many, in fact, were turned away that the buzz outside spilled onto the streets.
A “Goldilocks” Approach to UK AI
In his keynote, Huang praised Britain as the ideal environment for artificial intelligence: large enough to draw world-class talent yet compact enough to foster rapid experimentation. He announced that Nvidia will establish a new AI research lab in the U.K. and invest in upskilling programs to ensure graduates and professionals can meet rising demand. Huang pointed to top universities, a deep bench of researchers, and the U.K.’s standing as the world’s third-largest recipient of AI funding as proof that the country is perfectly poised for the next wave of innovation.
Sovereign AI Ambitions Take Shape
Building on that momentum, Prime Minister Starmer unveiled a £1 billion commitment in public funds through 2030 aimed at fostering homegrown AI breakthroughs and retaining intellectual property on British soil. The joint pledge from government and industry signals a clear intention to move swiftly from vision to real-world impact—in sectors ranging from healthcare diagnostics to financial services.
Expanding Europe’s AI Frontier
London marked just the opening act of Huang’s European tour. Next, he heads to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, followed by a collaboration in Germany to build a supercomputer powered by Nvidia architecture, and finally to Sweden, where he will support the launch of the nation’s first dedicated AI infrastructure. This cross-border itinerary underscores how AI strategy now spans national boundaries—and highlights the U.K.’s determination to remain at the forefront of global tech diplomacy.