In a move aimed at bolstering artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, Ori has selected Kao Data's data centre in Harlow for its first UK-based AI cloud region.
Ori, an AI-native cloud provider, has chosen to host its initial UK cloud infrastructure at Kao Data's NVIDIA DGX-Ready data centre campus. This deployment makes Ori the first AI cloud provider to utilise NVIDIA's latest H200 GPUs in the UK. Furthermore, Ori plans to introduce NVIDIA's GB200 architecture from April 2025 for customers both locally and globally.
The collaboration will see Ori provide a secure, scalable, and sustainable cloud infrastructure optimised for AI training and inference workloads. The infrastructure will be supported by a flexible software layer, enhancing its suitability for AI applications.
The decision facilitates Ori's expansion into the European cloud market. "We are delighted to partner with Kao Data for our UK expansion, and its Harlow campus offers us the perfect mix of high-density data centre infrastructure, renewable energy, and close proximity to London and Cambridge's thriving AI and tech ecosystems," commented Mahdi Yahya, Founder & CEO of Ori. "As demand for AI continues to surge, it was imperative to find a specialist data centre operator that understood AI and could support the scalability, performance and sustainability requirements of our GPU-powered cloud."
The adoption of NVIDIA H200 GPUs marks a significant milestone for Ori, enabling customers to access advanced GPU clusters designed for AI and deep learning. These resources will be housed within Kao Data's industrial-scale environment, powered wholly by certified renewable energy.
Spencer Lamb, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Kao Data, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: "Ori's decision to host their AI cloud infrastructure at our Harlow campus underscores our reputation as the key destination for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) deployments in the UK. Our partnership illustrates the continued need for the country to be investing in, supporting and hosting AI architectures, and showcases how the UK can continue to be a leader in the AI race by attracting and working with innovative, world-class startups."
This advanced AI cloud infrastructure includes NVIDIA's H200 Tensor Core GPUs, noted for their high performance and expansive memory capabilities. These GPUs are particularly preferred for applications in generative AI and large language models (LLMs).
The timing of this development aligns with UK governmental efforts to boost AI adoption nationwide. The AI Opportunities Action Plan aims to enhance economic growth, create future jobs, and improve societal well-being. The creation of 'AI Growth Zones' across the UK is part of this initiative, with Harlow's collaboration with Kao Data reinforcing the Cambridge-London "UK Innovation Corridor" as a strategic hub for AI investment.
