The Register: CoreWeave drops £1bn in UK datacenters – but don’t expect the latest Nvidia magic just yet

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/13/coreweave_datacenter_uk/
Source: The Register
Title: CoreWeave drops £1bn in UK datacenters – but don’t expect the latest Nvidia magic just yet

Feedly Summary: Rent-a-GPU outfit’s latest datacenters are packed to the brim with H200s
As the UK government reaffirms its aspirations to become an AI superpower, CoreWeave says two new GPU bit barns packed to the brim with Nvidia accelerators are ready for business.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

**Summary:** CoreWeave is expanding its AI infrastructure in the UK with new data centers utilizing Nvidia’s H200 GPUs. This move aligns with the UK government’s commitment to becoming an AI superpower, supported by extensive investments and infrastructure plans that aim to enhance productivity significantly.

**Detailed Description:**
The expansion of CoreWeave’s capabilities in the UK underlines significant developments in AI infrastructure and the strategic goals of the UK government. Here are the key points of this initiative:

– **CoreWeave’s Investment:**
– CoreWeave, a New Jersey-based data center operator, has launched two new data centers in Crawley and the London Docklands.
– This is part of a significant £1 billion ($1.2 billion USD) investment, indicating robust market entry in Europe.

– **AI Infrastructure Development:**
– The data centers are equipped with Nvidia H200 GPUs that utilize the Hopper architecture, designed for high-performance AI workloads.
– Each server hosts over a terabyte of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), enabling the processing of large AI models, such as Meta’s Llama 3.1 405B.

– **Strategic Goals and Collaborations:**
– CoreWeave’s partnership with colocation providers Digital Realty and Global Switch emphasizes collaboration to enhance AI infrastructure.
– The company’s European headquarters is also situated in the UK, showing commitment to regional growth.

– **Government Aspirations:**
– The UK government is striving to solidify its status as an AI superpower by implementing the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which proposes 50 recommendations aimed at boosting productivity.
– The projected economic impact is considerable, with estimates of generating £47 billion ($57 billion) yearly.

– **Challenges Ahead:**
– While the government’s goals are ambitious, there are concerns about the capacity of the UK’s National Grid to support the increased demand for energy required by these new operations.

– **Future Plans:**
– CoreWeave, already operating 28 data centers globally, plans to launch 10 more sites by the end of 2025, showcasing proactive expansion to meet growing AI needs.

This development holds significant implications for security and compliance professionals as it involves substantial infrastructure investments tailored to AI advancements. With increased AI capabilities comes the need for enhanced security protocols and considerations regarding data protection, privacy, and regulatory compliance in rapidly evolving technological landscapes.