Salesforce announces plans to invest $4 billion in the UK over the next five years to focus on AI

Salesforce, a developer of customer relationship management software, announced today that it has invested US $4 billion in its UK business over the next five years to meet the strong demand for digital transformation and AI.

Salesforce said the $4 billion plan was based on a $2.5 billion investment in the UK over the five-year period from 2018 to 2023.

Analysts say the new investment will boost Britain's technology industry to some extent.

Just a few weeks ago, Microsoft CEO Brad Smith criticized British regulators, saying its decision to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard had shaken confidence in the UK.

Commenting on Salesforce's new investment, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Salesforce's heavy investment in its UK business over the next five years is a strong support for our economy."

During a visit to Washington earlier this month, Sunak laid out plans to host a global AI security summit in the UK later this year, as governments around the world scramble to draft rules for the use of the revolutionary technology.

Salesforce said it would work with the UK government to drive the next wave of digital transformation in the new AI era.

Zahra Bahrololoumi, head of Salesforce's UK operations, said: "under a clear regulatory framework conducive to innovation, Salesforce will focus on bringing secure and credible generative AI to UK companies."

Earlier this month, Salesforce announced that it would double the size of its generative AI venture fund to $500m. Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff said: "AI is reshaping the world and changing business models in ways we never imagined. In the future, every company will have to put AI first."