Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’

<p>Exclusive: Rented datacentres and ‘supercomputer’ site that’s still a scaffolding yard raise questions for Starmer’s push to ‘mainline AI into veins of economy’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/09/from-press-release-to-scrap-metal-site-the-essex-supercomputer-thats-still-a-scaffolding-yard">From press release … to scrap metal site: the Essex supercomputer that’s still a scaffolding yard</a></p></li></ul><p>A multibillion-pound drive to “mainline AI into the veins” of the British economy is riddled with “phantom investments” and shaky accounting, a Guardian investigation has found.</p><p>Since 2024, successive Conservative and Labour governments have proclaimed massive deals to build new datacentres, create thousands of jobs and construct a supercomputer.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/09/revealed-uks-multibillion-ai-drive-is-built-on-phantom-investments">Continue reading...</a>