OpenAI has unveiled intentions to convert its London location into its most extensive research center outside of the United States. Founded in 2023, the UK office seeks to broaden its research team by drawing talent from premier British universities, though exact hiring figures remain unspecified.

Mark Chen, OpenAI’s chief research officer, underscored the globally recognized talent and institutions in the UK as pivotal factors for this expansion, reinforcing AI safety and utility. This initiative positions OpenAI in direct rivalry for top research talent with Google DeepMind, which is steered by British researcher Demis Hassabis and operates from London. DeepMind actively partners with Oxford and Cambridge Universities through professorships, funded research endeavors, and collaborative projects.

Recent career fairs at Oxford University demonstrated an increasing appetite for AI positions, marked by a rise in both job opportunities and student interest. Jonathan Black, director of the university’s careers service, highlighted the beneficial effects of these trends.

The London team will play a role in products such as Codex and GPT-5.2, while also prioritizing model safety, reliability, and performance assessment. UK science and technology secretary Liz Kendall commended the initiative as evidence of the UK’s preeminent position in AI research.

This announcement coincides with the UK’s initiatives to upgrade data center and power infrastructure to accommodate the growing computing needs of AI firms, including OpenAI.