Openai · CNBC Technology
OpenAI publishes first permanent London office after halting UK Stargate project
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OpenAI has announced it's opening its first permanent London office with a capacity of over 500 team members, after the company halted a major AI infrastructure project in the U.K.
Key facts
- AI cloud company Nscale raised $2 billion in March, in Feburary autonomous driving startup Wayve picked up $1.2 billion, and AI voice startup ElevenLabs has raised $500 million
- Funding has hit $6.7 billion so far this year, according to Dealroom, already shy of the $8.2 billion picked up across the whole of 2025
- It launched its AI Opportunities Action Plan at the start of 2025 and AI startups have increasingly been raising large sums from VCs
- The U.S.-based AI firm said it had signed the lease for an 88,500 square foot space on Monday
Summary
The U.S.-based AI firm said it had signed the lease for an 88,500 square foot space on Monday. "The UK has an incredible depth of talent and a strong track record in AI," Phoebe Thacker, London site lead at OpenAI, said in a statement. OpenAI's new office space will be located in the King's Cross area of London, home to a slew of AI companies including Google DeepMind, Meta, Synthesia and Wayve. The news comes days after OpenAI confirmed it had paused plans for its U.K. Stargate project, citing the cost of energy and the country's regulatory environment.