A LEADING artificial intelligence (AI) company has announced plans for a £15 billion investment in North Ayrshire, beginning next year.
AI Pathfinder plans to set up at the i3 site in Irvine, with the potential of turning it into one of the largest AI infrastructure hubs in Europe.
An announcement made on Thursday, September 18, has been warmly welcomed by Central Ayrshire MP Alan Gemmell and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander
The company has confirmed its first deployment will be Northamptonshire later this year, with the Irvine site to follow in 2026.
A spokesperson said: "As part of its long-term vision, AI Pathfinder plans to invest £15bn at i3 in Irvine, North Ayrshire, beginning with an initial investment from 2026 that will see the start of operations with significant planned GPU deployment.
"This 1GW site is expected to scale into one of the largest AI infrastructure hubs in Europe, with the future potential to expand to 1.5GW."
MP Alan Gemmell said: “Martin Bellamy and AI Pathfinder’s announcement that they plan to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in AI infrastructure at Irvine’s i3 site is a vote of confidence in this Labour Government's focus on AI and a vote of confidence in the Ayrshire economy.
“I'm delighted to have worked with Martin for the last nine months to help secure their commitment to Irvine and bring this brilliant British business to my hometown.
“AI Pathfinder’s investment has the potential to create thousands of jobs in the construction phase alone.
"In the long-term their ambition to turn i3 into one of the largest AI infrastructure hubs in Europe would mean the largest private sector investment in the west of Scotland
“Investment of this scale, putting Irvine and Ayrshire at the front of the UK’s AI ambitions, is only possible with this Labour government and four Labour MPs in Ayrshire.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander MP, said: “Alan Gemmell and all of Ayrshire’s local Labour MPs are working tirelessly to attract inward investment and jobs into their region and I applaud their efforts.
“AI and tech are at the heart of our plans to grow Scotland and the UK’s economy. These transformative technologies have the potential to revolutionise industries from healthcare to financial services, creating high-skilled jobs and positioning Scotland at the global forefront of AI.”
