# UK minister challenges OpenAI over paused flagship AI deal - slug: uk-minister-challenges-openai-over-paused-flagship-ai-deal - date: 2026-04-16 - category: Artificial Intelligence Two weeks after OpenAI raised $122 billion at a $852 billion valuation, the UK is publicly questioning whether energy costs and regulation are really why Stargate UK stalled — or whether OpenAI’s internal financing is the real constraint. ---