Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI said Wednesday that it will introduce data residency in the UK on Friday to give customers and developers the option to store data in the country.

OpenAI said the first to benefit from the offer is the country's Ministry of Justice, with which it has a deal for civil servants to use its artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.

The introduction of the UK data residency aims to help customers and developers meet domestic data protection preferences or requirements, OpenAI said.

In a statement Thursday, the ministry said enabling data to be stored on British soil is expected to boost investment as businesses will be confident that their data is managed securely in the country.