The announcement coincides with the state visit of US President Donald Trump, during which major technology and energy deals are expected to dominate the agenda. The investment will include significant spending on Google’s infrastructure, research and engineering teams, as well as support for Google DeepMind, its London-based AI arm. Ruth Porat, Google’s president and chief investment officer, confirmed the plans on Tuesday alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the official opening of the company’s first UK datacentre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. The Hertfordshire opening comes as all of the major technology groups ramp up capital spending on datacentre infrastructure. Further announcements on digital infrastructure and energy projects are expected, as the UK seeks to close the gap between its strong scientific credentials and its relatively underpowered digital backbone.