OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, plans to establish its inaugural international office in the UK.

OpenAI, under the leadership of CEO Sam Altman, has revealed its intention to establish its inaugural international office in London. The primary motivation behind this decision is the prospect of attracting exceptional talent to the city. The move comes in the wake of Altman’s criticism of the proposed regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) put forth by the European Union (EU), which mandate companies to disclose the training data employed for their AI systems. Conversely, the United Kingdom (UK) is focusing on implementing regulatory frameworks that foster innovation in the field.

OpenAI’s Vice President of People, Diane Yoon expressed enthusiasm about expanding their research and development presence in London. Recognising the city’s renowned cultural richness and exceptional talent pool, the company aims to build dynamic teams specialising in research and engineering to further advance its mission of creating and promoting safe AI.

The introduction of ChatGPT in November garnered substantial global attention due to its remarkable capability to generate human-like responses to inquiries. This breakthrough triggered discussions on the potential risks associated with AI and the imperative of implementing appropriate regulations.

Speaking at an event held at University College London, Altman emphasised his belief in AI’s potential to generate employment opportunities and reduce inequality. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also shared a positive outlook on AI, highlighting its capacity to positively transform humanity and enhance public services across various sectors within the UK.

ChatGPT has faced its fair share of controversy, including a temporary ban imposed in Italy, which was subsequently lifted in April 2023. Meanwhile, the UK government has been actively investing in AI, with a substantial allocation of £2.5 billion towards the development of the field since 2014.