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LONDON (Reuters) -Spending on new UK data centres is set to rise to 10 billion pounds a year by 2029, a more than five-fold increase from 2024, analysis by construction data firm Barbour ABI has found. A total of 1.75 billion pounds was spent on data centres in the UK last year, with 2.38 billion forecast to be spent in 2025. AI-driven demand is fuelling data centre investment. Tech giants are seen investing 25 billion pounds into the UK over the next five years, Barbour ABI found, and almost 100 new data centre projects are planned. Growth is being supported by government initiatives such as AI Growth Zones which aim to streamline the planning process for new digital infrastructure. London and surrounding areas have traditionally dominated the data centre sector, but development is increasingly expanding nationwide, according to Barbour ABI. The largest planned UK data centre project is a $13 billion "hyperscale" data centre in North East England, proposed by U.S. private equity group Blackstone. Last month, Britain and the United States agreed a technology pact with top U.S. firms including Microsoft, Nvidia and Google, among those pledging investments in the UK. Global data centre demand and planned projects have surged since ChatGPT was released in late 2022, as big money and governments bet generative AI will revolutionise the way we work and live. (Reporting by Lucy Raitano, editing by Ed Osmond)

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By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Biotech firm Metagenomi said it is using artificial intelligence chips from Amazon.com's cloud computing unit to power some of its work in developing gene-editing technologies. The work represents one of the first major uses of Amazon Web Services chips beyond chatbots and other products powered by large language models, with Metagenomi saying AWS's Inferentia chips had proven far more cost-effective than products from rivals like Nvidia. Emeryville, California-based firm Metagenomi is one of a number of companies working to develop tools to inject genetic material into the human body where it can edit genes to treat diseases. To do that, Metagenomi sifts through the natural world looking for proteins that might help with the challenge of precisely delivering a treatment to any gene in any cell of the human body. When it finds one that looks close, it uses AI to generate many similar examples to find just the right ones. "So we did this impressive thing where we generated over a million different proteins from this rare class of enzyme that we use for doing gene editing. And in that case, it was really a clear cost advantage for using the Inferentia platform," Chris Brown, head of discovery for Metagenomi. "Unless you cast a broad enough net in the beginning, you actually just miss what can be the most important discoveries and systems entirely," he added. The Inferentia chips – which were introduced in 2019 to power AI features for Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant – were able to do the same job as rival chips at roughly half the price, Brown said. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

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By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Biotech firm Metagenomi said it is using artificial intelligence chips from Amazon.com's cloud computing unit to power some of its work in developing gene-editing technologies. The work represents one of the first major uses of Amazon Web Services chips beyond chatbots and other products powered by large language models, with Metagenomi saying AWS's Inferentia chips had proven far more cost-effective than products from rivals like Nvidia. Emeryville, California-based firm Metagenomi is one of a number of companies working to develop tools to inject genetic material into the human body where it can edit genes to treat diseases. To do that, Metagenomi sifts through the natural world looking for proteins that might help with the challenge of precisely delivering a treatment to any gene in any cell of the human body. When it finds one that looks close, it uses AI to generate many similar examples to find just the right ones. "So we did this impressive thing where we generated over a million different proteins from this rare class of enzyme that we use for doing gene editing. And in that case, it was really a clear cost advantage for using the Inferentia platform," Chris Brown, head of discovery for Metagenomi. "Unless you cast a broad enough net in the beginning, you actually just miss what can be the most important discoveries and systems entirely," he added. The Inferentia chips – which were introduced in 2019 to power AI features for Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant – were able to do the same job as rival chips at roughly half the price, Brown said. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

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(Reuters) -FalconX said on Wednesday it will buy crypto investment management firm 21shares, as the digital assets trading firm looks to expand its exchange-traded funds offerings. The deal comes just over a month after Wall Street's top regulator removed the last remaining hurdle to dozens of new spot ETFs tied to cryptocurrencies ranging from solana to dogecoin. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Trump administration has aligned itself with the digital assets sector via long-awaited regulatory clarity, marking a stark turnaround from the years of struggle and a legal battle that paved the way for the approval of the first bitcoin ETF in January 2024. "We're witnessing a powerful convergence between digital assets and traditional financial markets, as crypto ETPs (exchange-traded products) open new channels for investor participation through regulated, familiar structures," said FalconX CEO Raghu Yarlagadda. Founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder, 21shares now manages over $11 billion in assets across dozens of products.  FalconX plans to leverage 21shares' expertise in crypto ETFs and its brokerage platform to advance the adoption of digital asset investment products.  Although updated standards from the Securities and Exchange Commission are expected to unleash a flurry of crypto ETFs, the U.S. government shutdown could curb the agency's ability to review and approve these filings. Concerns are also mounting over highly leveraged funds tracking crypto and related companies. Earlier this month, the sector saw its largest selloff ever after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed trade tensions with China. FalconX, which was valued at $8 billion in a 2022 funding round, has facilitated over $2 trillion in trading volume and has a client base exceeding 2,000 institutions. (Reporting by Ateev Bhandari and Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)

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By Kirstin Ridley and Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's markets regulator has filed a lawsuit against HTX, a global crypto exchange advised by Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, accusing it of unlawfully promoting crypto asset services to UK consumers. The Financial Conduct Authority said on Wednesday it had launched civil proceedings in London's High Court against HTX, formerly known as Huobi, for breaching Britain's financial promotions regime. HTX is not authorised to operate in Britain, the FCA's website shows. "This action is part of our commitment to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of UK financial markets," an FCA spokesperson said, declining to comment further. Representatives for HTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HTX ADVISED BY CHINESE ENTREPRENEUR JUSTIN SUN HTX was founded in 2013 and names Sun as a global adviser. Sun is a prominent backer of the Trump family's crypto venture World Liberty Financial, having spent at least $75 million on the project's crypto tokens. A wallet labelled "SUN", identified by blockchain analysts as belonging to HTX, was also the top holder of U.S. President Donald Trump's "$TRUMP" memecoin. The FCA, which says it wants to develop a competitive and sustainable cryptoasset regime, introduced new rules in 2023 for firms promoting crypto assets. They need authorisations and have to register with the FCA under money laundering regulations. However, HTX is currently on the FCA's warning list, which names companies that consumers should avoid dealing with. The FCA's case has been filed against Huobi Global and four groups listed as "persons unknown" to cover individuals such as the owners, operators and heads of promotions at the business. (Reporting by Kirstin Ridley and Elizabeth Howcroft. Additional reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Mark Potter)

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By Kirstin Ridley and Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's markets regulator has filed a lawsuit against HTX, a global crypto exchange advised by Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, accusing it of unlawfully promoting crypto asset services to UK consumers. The Financial Conduct Authority said on Wednesday it had launched civil proceedings in London's High Court against HTX, formerly known as Huobi, for breaching Britain's financial promotions regime. HTX is not authorised to operate in Britain, the FCA's website shows. "This action is part of our commitment to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of UK financial markets," an FCA spokesperson said, declining to comment further. Representatives for HTX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HTX ADVISED BY CHINESE ENTREPRENEUR JUSTIN SUN HTX was founded in 2013 and names Sun as a global adviser. Sun is a prominent backer of the Trump family's crypto venture World Liberty Financial, having spent at least $75 million on the project's crypto tokens. A wallet labelled "SUN", identified by blockchain analysts as belonging to HTX, was also the top holder of U.S. President Donald Trump's "$TRUMP" memecoin. The FCA, which says it wants to develop a competitive and sustainable cryptoasset regime, introduced new rules in 2023 for firms promoting crypto assets. They need authorisations and have to register with the FCA under money laundering regulations. However, HTX is currently on the FCA's warning list, which names companies that consumers should avoid dealing with. The FCA's case has been filed against Huobi Global and four groups listed as "persons unknown" to cover individuals such as the owners, operators and heads of promotions at the business. (Reporting by Kirstin Ridley and Elizabeth Howcroft. Additional reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Mark Potter)

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LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Wednesday moved to loosen the grip of Apple and Google in smartphones by designating them as having "strategic market status", giving it the powers to demand the tech giants make specific changes to boost competition. The Competition and Markets Authority said Apple and Google's mobile platforms were used by businesses right across the economy, but the platforms' "rules may be limiting innovation and competition". (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton)

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High in the Andes, an area nearly inhospitable with winds whipping through the mountains and temperatures plummeting, researchers found an almost complete — and practically articulated — skeleton of a long-necked dinosaur. It lived approximately 230 million years ago. Miami, Florida (tca/dpa) – The Quebrada de Santo Domingo in Argentina is a harsh environment. Situated high in the Andes, the area is nearly inhospitable with winds whipping through the mountains and temperatures plummeting. But millions of years before it became the ravine seen today, it was a home for diverse life — including dinosaurs. Paleontologists working in the Santo Domingo Ravine have now uncovered another dinosaur species new to science, and its exceptional age may make it one of the oldest dinosaurs ever found. At about 9,800 feet above sea level, researchers found “the almost complete — and practically articulated —skeleton of a long-necked dinosaur that lived approximately 230 million years ago,” according to an October 15 news release from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). Thediscovery was published in October in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature. “The team responsible for the discovery of (the new species) was also part of the first expeditions to this region in the west of La Rioja province, which until then remained virtually unexplored, and during which the presence of Triassic fossils began to be revealed,” CONICET said. The fossils include a significant portion of the vertebrae as well as some bones from the front legs, back legs, hands and feet, according to the study. “We estimate a length of approximately (6.5 feet) and about (40 pounds) for an adult individual, almost double that of other close relatives found in Argentina,” study author Malena Juarez said in the release. The dinosaur was identified as a species of primitive sauropodomorph, a group of long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs. “(The new species) is novel because it exhibits two key features: a considerably longer neck and a larger size than most of its contemporaries,” study author Martín Hechenleitner said in the release. “These aspects confirm a very early and synchronous appearance of both characteristics, which were fundamental to the evolutionary history of sauropodomorphs.” The new species was named Huayracursor jaguensis, representing both a new species as well as a new genus, or group of species with shared physical and evolutionary traits. “Huayra” is the Quechua word for wind, and cursor means “runner” in Latin, according to the study. Jaguensis represents the Jagüé village, not far from where the fossil was found. Together, the species is now known as the Jagüé windrunner. “We estimate that Huayracursor must have been between 230 and 225 million years old, making it one of the oldest dinosaurs in the world,” study author Agustín Martinelli said in the release. “It’s rare in life that one can say that totally new sites have been discovered, with fauna that are extraordinary in their preservation and abundance.” The dinosaur existed during the Late Triassic period, known for the first real appearances of dinosaurs and the early ancestors of mammals, CONICET said. The Quebrada de Santo Domingo is in the La Rioja province of northwestern Argentina . The research team includes Juarez, Hechenleitner, Martinelli, Sebastián Rocher , Lucas E. Fiorelli , Jeremías R. A. Taborda and Julia B. Desojo. The following information is not intended for publication dpa tca arw

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(Reuters) -Applied Digital on Wednesday signed a $5 billion lease with a U.S.-based hyperscaler for 200 MW at its Polaris Forge 2 campus in North Dakota, sending its shares up 4% in premarket trading. The agreement, expected to run about 15 years and generate about $5 billion in contracted revenue, extends Applied Digital's push to supply artificial intelligence compute capacity as developers race to secure infrastructure for growing demand. With the deal, Applied Digital's total leased capacity at its Polaris Forge 1 and Polaris Forge 2 campuses in North Dakota rises to 600 MW. Earlier this year, the company finalized a new lease agreement with CoreWeave for an additional 150 MW in the state. Applied's shares have soared over 325% so far this year fueled by investors betting big on the company's data center expansion plans. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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