According to Cointelegraph, the United States and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly advance technologies such as artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, telecommunications, and quantum computing. This agreement aims to explore applications in various fields, including space travel, military defense, and biomedical advancements. Although the MOU is not legally binding and does not alter existing agreements, it proposes collaborative research initiatives involving multiple government departments and agencies from both nations.
A task group will be established to focus on developing quantum computing hardware, software, algorithms, and interoperability standards. Quantum computing has garnered significant interest within the crypto community due to its potential to challenge modern encryption standards, which are crucial to the security of cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the collaboration will investigate the development of 6G mobile telecommunications networks, furthering technological research and development efforts.
U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized the positive impact of this collaboration on investments across various industrial sectors during a press briefing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump highlighted that the partnership has catalyzed $350 billion in deals across numerous sectors, reinforcing the commitment to ensuring the UK remains a secure and reliable source of top-tier AI hardware and software. He also noted that $17 trillion was invested in the U.S. over the past year as the country strives to lead in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and high-performance computing systems.
The announcement from the White House also underscored the collaboration on developing advanced nuclear energy plants, including nuclear fusion reactors. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign fuels and strengthen the energy supply chain. Nuclear fusion, which involves combining atoms to generate energy, is considered safer than nuclear fission, as it emits less radiation and poses a lower risk of catastrophic meltdown. Advanced nuclear reactors are expected to provide substantial energy, essential for energy-intensive applications like artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
However, the availability of abundant energy could potentially disrupt proof-of-work mining algorithms used in securing certain cryptocurrencies. If energy becomes inexpensive and plentiful, the barriers imposed by proof-of-work may weaken, potentially enabling malicious actors to exploit PoW protocols through spam transactions and 51% attacks.
The next steps in this collaborative effort include establishing an "Executive Branch-level Working Group" within the next six months to facilitate research and development through annual meetings. The White House clarified that the MOU does not create any legally binding obligations, and neither country is required to allocate funds or modify existing agreements.