The partnership between OpenAI and the government includes plans to expand AI security research collaborations, explore investing in UK AI infrastructure such as data centres and to make better use of new technology in taxpayer funded services such as security and education.

Under the partnership, OpenAI will also explore potential routes to deliver the infrastructure priorities laid out in the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, with the hope of developing AI technology in the UK, and with OpenAI also potentially looking to invest in and support AI growth zones across the UK.

It comes as OpenAI deepens its commitment to the UK, with plans to increase the size of its London office, which was opened as the company’s first international location two years ago.

The initiative follows the UK investing up to £500m in sovereign AI that will be spent backing national AI champions and partnering with companies like OpenAI.

OpenAI’s large language model, ChatGPT, already underpins multiple tools in Humphrey, Whitehall’s AI assistant for the UK civil service.

For example, GPT 4o is used in Consult, a tool that speeds up the policy-making process by automatically sorting public responses to consultations.

In addition to supporting infrastructure plans laid out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, OpenAI may also explore developing AI-enabled research and development infrastructure in the UK, focused on shared areas of strategic interest with the government.

Peter Kyle said: “AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country – whether that’s in fixing the NHS, breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth. That’s why we need to make sure Britain is front and centre when it comes to developing and deploying AI, so we can make sure it works for us.

“This can’t be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK, creating high-paid tech jobs, driving investment in infrastructure, and crucially giving our country agency over how this world-changing technology moves forward.”

Sam Altman added: “AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth. Britain has a strong legacy of scientific leadership and its government was one of the first to recognise the potential of AI through its AI Opportunities Action Plan.

“Now, it’s time to deliver on the plan’s goals by turning ambition to action and delivering prosperity for all.”

Agentic AI

The agreement follows the release of ChatGPT Agent, an agentic AI tools that aims to complete tasks using its own computer.

The tool allows ChatGPT users to ask the platform to handle requests and will navigate websites, filter results, prompt you to log in securely when needed, run code, conduct analysis and deliver editable slideshows and spreadsheets that summarise its findings. 

The tool uses a unified agentic system that seeks to combine Operator’s⁠ ability to interact with websites, Deep Research’s⁠ skill in synthesising information and ChatGPT’s intelligence and conversational fluency.

ChatGPT carries out these tasks using its own virtual computer, all based on user instructions.

Pro, Plus, and Team users can use ChatGPT’s new agentic capabilities directly through the tools drop-down menu from the composer on the platform by selecting ‘agent mode’ at any point in any conversation.