Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has secured a significant computing deal worth $1.8 billion with Akamai Technologies to meet surging demand for its AI software, according to reports from Bloomberg News. This long-term cloud agreement positions Akamai as a major partner for Anthropic's AI development needs, addressing the growing demand for the company's AI software offerings. The deal is expected to span seven years, representing a substantial commitment to the AI infrastructure partnership.
Akamai shares experienced substantial gains following the announcement, rising 30% after the company raised its full-year outlook and disclosed the long-term cloud deal with a frontier model provider. In regular trading, the stock was up about 28% at $149.05. Both Akamai and Anthropic declined to provide comments on the partnership details.
The cloud and cybersecurity firm forecast second-quarter revenue of between $1.08 billion and $1.10 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $1.10 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. CEO Tom Leighton told Reuters that Akamai is well-positioned to secure access to all necessary components, including CPUs and GPUs, even as component prices have risen significantly. The company's positive outlook contributed to the strong market response following the AI infrastructure announcement.
This partnership follows Anthropic's announcement on Wednesday of reaching a deal to tap the computing resources of Elon Musk's SpaceX, marking a rapprochement with a one-time critic and providing both companies with a boost in the competitive artificial intelligence race. The dual partnerships demonstrate Anthropic's strategic approach to securing diverse computing resources for its AI development initiatives, positioning the company to capitalize on the growing demand for advanced AI infrastructure.
