Anthropic to pay Akamai $11.6 billion over seven years for cloud infrastructure
AI firm Anthropic has committed to spending $11.6 billion over seven years on Akamai's cloud infrastructure. The deal is the largest in Akamai's history.
AI company Anthropic has agreed to spend $11.6 billion over seven years on Akamai's cloud infrastructure, the latter announced Thursday. This commitment significantly exceeds a previous $1.8 billion deal between the two companies reported by Bloomberg in May.
The agreement marks the largest deal in Akamai's history and continues Anthropic's substantial demand for computing resources. The deal also signifies a strategic focus on central processing units (CPUs), a foundational component of AI infrastructure whose demand has grown as AI agents take on more complex tasks. Akamai did not specify Anthropic's intended use for the CPUs.
Akamai anticipates no revenue from this agreement in the current year, with earnings expected to commence next year. Executives indicated on an investor call Thursday that the full seven-year commitment could potentially reach approximately $20 billion. In an unusual arrangement, Akamai will also grant Anthropic a potential stake of up to 5% in its stock, with the percentage increasing as Anthropic's spending grows.
The agreement is contingent upon Akamai meeting specific delivery and service availability requirements. Both companies retain the right to terminate the contract under certain conditions. This substantial commitment underscores the rapid expansion of the AI sector and the significant investments required for computing power.