Interim and Fractional IT Director CTO CIO NED | Energy Finance | AI Generalist | Transformation | Tech Investor
The UK's struggle to keep pace in compute resources is largely attributed to a few key challenges: Dependency on External Providers: The UK heavily relies on US-based cloud hyperscalers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, which hampers the development of domestic compute capabilities (GOV.UK). Lack of Sovereign Capability: There's a recognized need for the UK to develop its own sovereign compute infrastructure to reduce reliance on foreign technology and support local researchers and industries (GOV.UK). Investment Shortfalls: Historically, the UK has underinvested in advanced compute infrastructure compared to its global peers. This underinvestment limits the country's ability to support high-demand AI research and development (GOV.UK). Fragmented Ecosystem: The compute ecosystem in the UK is described as complex and difficult to navigate, which can deter potential users and slow down technological advancements (GOV.UK). Vision and Coordination: There's a call for a clearer long-term vision and better national coordination to bolster the UK's compute infrastructure. This includes strategic investments in public exascale capabilities and improved access to compute resources through better cloud service interoperability and procurement processes (GOV.UK).
