Weekly updates

How recent AI infrastructure deals and regulation affect your business now

AI is shifting fast. This week brought two developments that matter if you run a small or medium business in the UK. One is about investment in infrastructure. The other is about how chatbots are coming under regulatory scrutiny. Both require you to act, not just watch.

Big infrastructure deals are coming UK’s way

A major investment is being made in UK data centres. In one deal reported 12 September 2025, OpenAI and Nvidia are set to support “billions of dollars” in UK data centre investments. Reuters These will come via Nscale Global Holdings and are timed with the state visit of the US president.

At roughly the same time, BlackRock plans to invest about £500 million in British data‑centre infrastructure.  That investment intends to upgrade existing facilities, improve capacity, and serve growing demand driven by cloud computing and AI workloads.

Why this matters to you:

• Better infrastructure means faster, more reliable cloud services and lower latency. If your business depends on cloud computing, AI, or large data transfers (for example, for machine learning or analytics), then improved data‑centre capacity can reduce costs or improve performance.

• It also means more competition. As large firms build or modernise data centres closer to where users are, costs for transfers and delays may fall.

• Energy costs and grid capacity remain potential constraints. Even with new centres, the supply of reliable energy, fast regulatory approvals, and good connections (e.g. fibre, power) may lag.

Regulators are asking questions about chatbot safety

On 11 September 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an inquiry into how major firms (Alphabet/Google, Meta, OpenAI, Snap, Instagram, Character.AI, xAI) handle safety in AI chatbots, especially for younger users.Reuters+1 They want to know:

• how chatbots are designed and monitored for harmful or misleading content, especially when used by children or teens;

• how engagement is monetised and data collected;

• what disclosures are given to users and parents;

• whether tools such as parental controls or age‑checks are in place.

What it means for your business: If you use or plan to use AI chatbots (customer service, digital assistants, or any tool that interacts with customers) then safety, transparency and data practice matter more than ever. Even if the regulation is U.S‑based now, the risk of similar rules in the UK is rising. Unclear practices around chatbots could lead to trust issues, legal exposure, or damage to reputation.

What you can do now

Here are clear, practical steps to make sure your business is ready:

1. Audit your current AI/ cloud usage List all AI tools, cloud services, and chatbots you use. Note what data they handle, how critical they are, what level of reliability or speed you require.

2. Check your vendor SLAs, latency, and data centre location With big infrastructure investment in UK data centres, ask your providers whether they are using UK‑based data centres. Data locality can affect speed, cost, and compliance.

3. Review your chatbot or AI assistant safety practices If you use or plan to use chatbots, ensure you have:

   • clear privacy/data handling policies;

   • content moderation or oversight;

   • disclosure to users about what the bot can/cannot do;

   • age verification or parental control if minors may use it.

4. Plan for regulation Even if UK rules are not yet as detailed as the FTC’s inquiry, similar topics are likely to come up: safety, data, transparency. Document your processes now so you can show you’ve taken reasonable steps.

Invest selectively in staff training Train relevant employees in areas such as AI ethics, data privacy, and vendor obligations. Even smaller companies gain advantages from having personnel who comprehend the associated risks.

A balanced, long‑term view

While investment in data‑centre infrastructure offers opportunity, there are challenges. Energy costs, regulatory delays, and ensuring grid capacity remain real concerns. For chatbots, safety and trust will increasingly be differentiators; misuse or unexpected consequences can cost more than features.

These trends suggest that small and medium businesses that prepare now — in infrastructure, compliance, and staff skills — will be less exposed to risks and more ready to seize the benefits of better technology.