Salesforce bets big on UK AI with new London centre and $4 billion investment

Salesforce has announced a major commitment to artificial intelligence (AI) in the United Kingdom. The company plans to open its first-ever AI center in London's Bankside area, housed in the Blue Fin building.

“By locating Salesforce’s first, flagship AI center in London, we are sending a clear message to customers and partners on AI: we are deeply committed to working closely together so that you can reap the rewards of this transformative technology, while ensuring it is a force for good,” Salesforce’s Bahrololoumi said in a statement.

The London AI center will serve as a hub for industry experts, partners, and customers to collaborate on AI advancements. Salesforce aims to leverage this center to foster a skilled AI workforce in the UK. The CRM giant said it expects the AI center to play a role in creating 500,000 AI-related jobs in the U.K.

This initiative coincides with a pledged investment of $4 billion over five years to fuel AI growth and innovation across the UK.

In addition to announcing the opening of its AI center, Salesforce also revealed that it had also injected $200 million into British AI companies like ElevenLabs, a text-to-speech software platform, demonstrating Salesforce's commitment to nurturing local talent.

The facility is expected to officially open June 18 with a free event to train more than 100 developers. This move aligns with projections for the UK's AI market, expected to reach a staggering $1 trillion by 2035.