Anthropic signs $517 billion in compute deals

Anthropic's reported compute deals mark a decisive shift in its infrastructure strategy. Earlier in 2026, CEO Dario Amodei cautioned rivals about reckless risk, but now Anthropic itself is making massive commitments to secure computing power. This reversal suggests that competitive pressure, likely from OpenAI's aggressive expansion, is forcing even cautious players to scale up dramatically.

The contracts, worth up to $517 billion, underline the immense capital requirements in the AI industry. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are making plans that far exceed their current revenue, with Anthropic's annualized revenue at over $65 billion and OpenAI's above $40 billion. This gap between planned spending and available revenue highlights the financial gamble these companies are taking.

The tension between Amodei's earlier warning and his company's current actions, alongside Sam Altman's cautions about "unsustainable silliness," points to an industry-wide dilemma. The race to build AI infrastructure may hinge on whether technological progress makes these expensive projects obsolete or essential. The outcome will affect not only these companies but the entire AI ecosystem that depends on their computing power.