Report says Meta is in talks to lease computing power to Anthropic

In short: Meta is reportedly in early talks with Anthropic about leasing computing power, in a deal that could be worth up to $10 billion over two years.

What happened

Meta and Anthropic are said to be discussing a deal where Anthropic would rent “compute,” meaning the computer power needed to train and run AI systems (like renting extra electricity and machines for a factory). The reported value is up to $10 billion over two years, but the talks are not final and the terms could change or fall apart.

The reporting says this would be a compute leasing arrangement, not a partnership to build AI models together. Reuters reported that Anthropic would pay monthly over the two-year period. Reuters also reported that either company could exit the arrangement early under the discussed terms.

CNN noted that the dollar figures are still speculative. They are based on unnamed sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Why it matters

This is a clear example of how AI companies can be both rivals and customers at the same time. Meta and Anthropic compete in the broader race to build and sell AI products, but one company can still sell the other the expensive “plumbing” it needs to operate. The numbers also underline how costly AI has become, with other recent reports pointing to very large spending and fundraising tied to AI computing capacity.

Source: NYTimes