OpenAI never visited its Stargate UK site, Guardian finds
OpenAI never visited its Stargate UK site, Guardian finds
https://thenextweb.com/news/openai-apparently-never-visited-the-site-of-its-flagship-uk-ai-project
Publish Date: 2026-07-04 09:47:43
Source Domain: thenextweb.com
Guardian Investigation Sheds Light on Stargate UK Project’s Missteps
The Guardian’s recent investigation raises serious questions about the integrity and planning of the UK’s Stargate UK AI infrastructure project, a partnership between Open AI, Nscale, and Nvida. Reports indicate that Open AI did not visit the designated site before the project’s announcement during Donald Trump’s state visit in September 2025, despite it being a key component of a £31 billion tech investment package showcased as a proof of Britain’s competitive edge in AI. Previous investigations by the Guardian found that Nscale’s planned supercomputer site in Loughton, Essex, was actually an unfinished scaffolding yard with no evidence of construction. Additionally, there was no signed contract as promised by the government, and the high industrial electricity costs in the UK, along with unresolved regulatory questions, led Open AI to pause the project in April 2026. Instead of building in the UK, Nscale opted to invest in Portugal, where they found more favorable conditions for their tech infrastructure.
Key Points:
- Open AI reportedly never visited the planned site before announcing their Stargate UK project.
- The designated supercomputer site in Loughton, Essex, was an unfinished scaffolding yard when it was inspected.
- No signed investment contracts were found despite UK government claims, highlighting potential “phantom investments.”
- The project was paused in April 2026 due to high electricity costs and regulatory uncertainties.
- Nscale redirected its investment to Portugal, finding more favorable conditions there.
