Former Chancellor George Osborne warns UK datacentre opposition hampers AI sovereignty

Former Chancellor George Osborne, now OpenAI’s “head of AI for countries,” has warned that the United Kingdom risks losing strategic control over artificial‑intelligence technology unless it expands domestic data‑centre capacity. Speaking amid nationwide protests against the construction of large, water‑ and energy‑intensive facilities, Osborne said that local opposition—often described as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) sentiment—is “holding Britain back” and could undermine the nation’s AI sovereignty.

In his role at OpenAI, Osborne engages with governments worldwide and oversees initiatives to develop the infrastructure required for advanced AI models. He argued that a robust network of UK‑based data centres would reduce reliance on foreign cloud services, safeguard sensitive data, and support the country’s competitiveness in the global AI race. The comment comes as policymakers debate regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms for high‑performance computing, with officials indicating that addressing the infrastructure gap will be a priority in forthcoming technology strategies.