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September 22, 2025

Britain: tech powerhouse or vassal state?

The latest splurge of US tech investment in Britain has its critics

John Thornhill

4 min read

Two starkly different views were expressed last week about the latest splurge of US tech investment in Britain. The first applauded the commitment of up to £31bn of capital in AI infrastructure as an invigorating boost to the UK’s tech sector. The second suggested that the further extension of US tech dominance would turn Britain into a vassal state. In reality, both statements may be simultaneously true.

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John Thornhill

John Thornhill is Sifted’s editorial director and cofounder. He is also innovation editor of the Financial Times, and tweets from @johnthornhillft

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