OpenAI has announced the opening of its first permanent office in London, according to reports from Monday, April 13. The move comes after the company paused its ambitious UK Stargate infrastructure project.
OpenAI also disclosed tensions with Microsoft, with the company saying its longtime partner has 'limited our ability' to reach certain enterprise clients as competition between the two organisations intensifies.
The London office will house approximately 150 staff, focused on policy engagement, enterprise sales, and research partnerships with UK universities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the UK as 'one of the most important markets for AI adoption globally.'
The Stargate project — a planned $10 billion data centre in the north of England — has been 'paused indefinitely' due to regulatory uncertainties and shifting priorities toward existing US infrastructure.
The Microsoft tensions are notable. While Microsoft remains OpenAI's largest investor and cloud computing partner, the two companies are increasingly competing for the same enterprise customers. OpenAI's decision to build its own sales infrastructure in Europe signals a desire for greater independence.