The Politics & AI Issue

Will the UK capitalise on Trump’s H-1B visa shock?

While there may not have been any university vice-chancellors at the Windsor State Banquet last week, probably for the best, as we know how the present administration feels about academia. Donald Trump has inadvertently gone a long way toward saving UK universities, many of which are in dire financial straits. The royals played their part with a flawless state visit. Any time relations with the US look dicey, the Government should just roll out the royals to get things back on side, a reciprocal royal trip to the US now looks likely. Beneath the pomp and ceremony of Windsor Castle, two developments during and just after the visit could reshape the landscape for UK higher education for decades to come.

First was a wave of tech investment announcements that underscored the UK’s growing role as Europe’s digital powerhouse. The Government unveiled a record-breaking £150 billion in US investment commitments during the visit. Microsoft pledged £22 billion to expand UK data centres and build what is being described as Britain’s largest AI supercomputer. Google committed £5 billion to new infrastructure and capacity. CoreWeave confirmed a £1.5 billion partnership with Scotland’s DataVita to build one of Europe’s most efficient AI centres. Collectively, these deals are projected to create thousands of jobs annually, particularly in advanced computing, AI, and green technologies. The message was clear: the UK is seen by US firms as the most fertile ground for technological innovation outside Silicon Valley.