OpenAI Unveils Significant Growth Plans for London Office

OpenAI has revealed intentions to transform its London office into the largest research center it has outside the United States.

The organization, which set up a UK office in 2023, plans to grow its London research team by attracting talent from top British universities. The exact number of researchers to be hired has not been disclosed.

“The UK gathers exceptional talent and prominent scientific institutions and universities, making it a prime location for conducting essential research to ensure our AI is safe, beneficial, and accessible to all,” stated Mark Chen, OpenAI’s chief research officer.

These plans put OpenAI in direct competition for leading research talent with Google DeepMind, an AI lab led by British researcher Demis Hassabis, based in London. DeepMind has established long-term collaborations with institutions like Oxford University and the University of Cambridge, funding research, sponsoring professorships, and working closely with academics.

During the most recent careers fair at Oxford University, the venue was bustling with undergraduates searching for technical positions and recruiters hiring for AI roles. “The demand and supply are increasing on both sides, even in just a year,” remarked Jonathan Black, director of Oxford University’s careers service. “The emergence of opportunities like this is a very positive development.”

OpenAI’s London team will keep contributing to products such as Codex and GPT-5.2 but will now take charge of specific aspects related to model development, especially those concerning safety, reliability, and performance assessment.

Liz Kendall, the UK’s science and technology secretary, called the announcement “a significant endorsement of the UK’s leading role at the forefront of AI research.”

The announcement aligns with the UK’s efforts to enhance its data center and power infrastructure to satisfy the growing computational needs of AI companies, including OpenAI.